M12

M18

FORCELOGIC

8
5
9
12
—
—
—
—
—

9
6
8
5
7
6
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
4
5
7

Nominal Fitting
Size

Cut Length of
Pipe

½"

2"

¾"

3"

1"

3½"

1¼"

4½"

1½"

4½"

2"

6"

2½"

7½

3"

9"

Table 2-2: Minimum Distance
Between ProPEX Fittings
Cut Length of Pipe

Uponor ProPEX Tool
Manual 100/150
5
4
9
14
—
—
—
—
—

7
4
9H
7H
7H
8H
—
—
—

201
—
—
—
—
—
—
5H
—
—

Table 2-1: Recommended Number of Expansions for 3⁄8" to 3" Piping at
73.4ºF (23ºC)
Note: “H” in the table refers to Uponor H-series expander heads.

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual

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Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

7

PAGE 14 OF 25

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

SERVICE BULLETIN

Making ProPEX Connections with
Milwaukee ProPEX Expansion Tools
Note: All standard Uponor Expander Heads are compatible with the M12 and M18 tools.
Uponor expander heads will not auto-rotate on the Milwaukee tools (only Milwaukee
expansion heads will auto-rotate on the M12 and M18). H-heads are not compatible
with Milwaukee tools and Milwaukee heads are not compatible with Uponor tools.
Milwaukee heads are easily distinguished by color coding and the Milwaukee logo.

Shoulder

Important! Making expansions
are slightly different when using
a tool that features auto rotation.
When making a ProPEX
connection, be sure to follow
the guidelines for the tool you
are using in your application.

Important! If making a 3⁄8"
ProPEX Connection, you must
first expand each side of the ring
before placing it on the piping.
Refer to the “Making 3⁄8" ProPEX
Connections” instructions on
page 16 for further information.

1. Square cut the PEX piping
perpendicular to the length of
the piping. Remove all excess
material or burrs that might
affect the fitting connection.

With Auto Rotation
(Standard Milwaukee Heads)

2. Slide the ProPEX Ring over
the end of the piping until it
reaches the stop edge. If using a
ProPEX Ring without a stop edge,
extend the ring over the end of the
piping no more than 1⁄16" (1mm).

3
⁄8" and 1⁄2"
Milwaukee
Expansion Head

1

3. Milwaukee ProPEX Expansion Tools
come with built-in auto rotation.
If using a Milwaukee expansion
head, simply hold the piping and
tool in place while holding the
trigger to expand the piping. The
head will automatically rotate
to ensure the piping is evenly
expanded. Continue expanding
until the piping and ring are
snug against the shoulder on the
expander head. See Table 2-1
for the recommended number of
expansions for each piping size.

Without Auto Rotation
(Standard Uponor Heads)
4. Press the trigger to expand
the piping.
5. Release the trigger, remove the
head from the piping, rotate
it 1⁄8 turn and slide the head
back into the piping. Continue
expanding and rotating until
the piping and ring are snug
against the shoulder on the
expander head. See Table 2-1
for the recommended number
of expansions.
Important! Rotating the tool
between expansions will provide
smooth, even expansion of the
piping. Failure to rotate the
tool will cause deep grooves
in the piping which can result
in potential leak paths.
4

Note: Do not force the pipe onto
the expander head. Ensure the
expander head is rotating during
each expansion.

Shoulder

3, 5
2

3
⁄4" to 3" Milwaukee
Expansion Heads

8

Expansion with Milwaukee M12 ProPEX Expansion Tool

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

—

uponorengineering.com

PAGE 15 OF 25

SERVICE BULLETIN

6a

6b

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

6c
Shoulder

ProPEX Coupling

Insert ProPEX Fitting into ½" Uponor PEX Piping.
6d

6e
Shoulder

Insert ProPEX Fitting into 1" Uponor PEX Piping.
Important! Only perform the
necessary number of expansions.
DO NOT over expand the pipe.
You should feel some resistance
as the fitting goes into the piping.

6. After the final expansion,
immediately remove the tool
and insert the fitting. Ensure
the piping and ring seat against
the shoulder of the fitting.

3, 5

4

If you do not feel any resistance,
the piping may be over expanded
and will require additional time to
shrink over the fitting.

ProPEX Tee

4

Expansion with Milwaukee M18 ProPEX Expansion Tool

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual

—

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

9

PAGE 16 OF 25

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

SERVICE BULLETIN

Making ProPEX
Connections with
the Milwaukee
M18 FORCELOGIC
ProPEX Expansion Tool
FORCELOGIC Expansion
Head Installation
The Milwaukee FORCELOGIC ProPEX
Expansion Tool for 2", 21⁄2" and 3"
Uponor PEX pipe features an autorotating head with specially designed
alignment cogs. This requires slightly
different head installation than the
M12 and M18 ProPEX expansion
tools for 3⁄8" to 11⁄2" pipe sizes.
1. Remove the battery pack and
place the FORCELOGIC Tool in the
upright position (cone up).
2. Verify the expansion cone is
fully retracted.

1

3. Screw the head onto the tool
(clockwise). Hand-tighten
securely. Do not over tighten.
Ensure the expansion head fits
flush against the tool.

c. Rotate the six expansion
segments in the clockwise
direction. They will rotate
freely. They should not
rotate counter clockwise.

4. Check the installation.

d. The expansion head collar will fit
flush against the tool.

a. Ensure the head segments do not
“flower” (see image 4a).
b. If the head flowers, correct the
installation by loosening the
head slightly and rotating the
segments until they engage in
the cogs. Re-tighten the head.
4a

4b

Incorrect Expansion
Head “Flowering”

10

Correct Expansion
Head Alignment

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

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uponorengineering.com

PAGE 17 OF 25

SERVICE BULLETIN

Making a ProPEX
Connection

Note: To cancel the expansion process
quickly, pull and release the trigger.

1. Square cut the PEX piping
perpendicular to the length of the
piping. Remove all excess material
or burs that might affect the fitting
connection.

4. Press the trigger to initiate the
rotation of the head. A green light
will turn on and the work light
will blink. Insert the pipe and ring
and release the trigger. When the
expansion head has reached its
maximum diameter, it will retract.

2. Slide the ProPEX Ring over the end
of the piping until it reaches the
stop edge.
3. The Milwaukee tool comes with
built-in auto rotation, meaning
the head will automatically rotate
to ensure the piping is evenly
expanded.

BS4173E

6. Repeat the process until the pipe
and ring are snug against the
shoulder of the expansion head.
Repeat the expansion one or two
more times depending on the
ambient temperature.
Note: Fewer expansions are required
in colder temperatures.
7. After final expansion,
immediately remove the
tool and insert the fitting.

5. After the tool has retracted, the
green indicator light blinks three
times. Press the trigger and repeat
the expansion process.

1

4

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual

Important! Do not force the
pipe and ring on the head during
any expansion.

SAV.1E.2012MA

—

2a

2b

6

7

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

11

PAGE 18 OF 25

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

SERVICE BULLETIN

Making ProPEX
Connections with
the ProPEX 201
Corded Expander Tool
1. Square cut the PEX piping
perpendicular to the length of
the piping. Remove all excess
material or burrs that might
affect the fitting connection.
2. Slide the ProPEX Ring over the
end of the piping until it reaches
the stop edge. If using a ProPEX
Ring without a stop edge, extend
the ring over the end of the piping
no more than 1⁄16" (1mm).

3. Slide the expander head into
the piping until it stops. Full
expansions are necessary to
make a proper connection.

4. Press the trigger to expand
the piping.

3

1

4

2
5a

12

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections