Improved hand held tool for removing and replacing a removable top nozzle

A hand held tool for removing a top nozzle from guide thimbles of a nuclear fuel assembly comprises an elongated handle pole, and a tool head which includes an anchor assembly and a lift assembly. The anchor assembly has elongated probe members insertable into the guide thimbles and expansion sleeves thereon for gripping the guide thimbles. A coupling structure couples both the lift assembly and anchor assembly to the lower end of the handle pole. The coupling structure is operable in a first mode to rotate the lift assembly to lock it with the top nozzle and in a second mode to move the lift assembly axially relative to the anchor assembly to cause lifting and detaching of the top nozzle from the guide thimbles. (author)