Removing Cotter Pins - How?

[youngoldbloke]

I remember filing them to fit being a PITA too. I also remember cutting them off flush with the crank and using a punch to remove them.

 

[gbb]

Blimey, what a coincidence and a reminder of days gone by...
Coincidence because i've just been fettling the wifes project bike, an old raleigh that had cottered cranks...i removed them and fitted a double SR jobby along with the BB of course, and in the course of playing, saw the original cotter pins in my box.
Reminders...all the advice above is good, but be aware sometimes they bend on the thread however careful you are, then they're a bin job.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Just got back from my ride and I've not heard from him, so he's either got it out or given up. He did mention about maybe throwing a new crankset on anyway. I'll find out Monday.
Thanks for all the replies, CC'ers do it again, first reply was in just 6 minutes, you guys are the best

 

[jay clock]

Could try riding it with the nut undone?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Could try riding it with the nut undone?

Could have, but the cranks are the only thing left on it right now.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Cotter pins - haven't seen those for decades. I remember on one bike somehow the nut came off, and the pin fell out, so I had to resort to shoving a piece off a branch in there, to get home.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

undo the nut so it's flush with the top of the pin; this gives more surface area when you whack it, and prevents damaging the threads…

 

[subaqua]

I used to use my dads brass drift to whack it with if it didn' waggle loose. he caught me hitting it with a large engineering hammer(nut on but loose) and went bonkers. i used heat once and needed to regrease the bearings. I was only 10 at the time.

 

[tyred]

The important thing is to hit it really hard.

One hard crack is more use than sitting tip tapping at it until it's riveted in place. Best replaced with new pins as I always find ones that have been re-used tend to keep coming loose.