Taking cranks off a vintage Dawes racer - Help please

[Alex11]

Set about doing it this morning, did the drive train side with no problems, now went to the other side and it seems to have gone through but not far enough, the thread is just poking out of the other end. Not enough to put on the nut. Hit again? Hard?

 

[tyred]

Probably just hit it harder but check that you have the hole in the crank lined up correctly with the slot in the bb spindle.

I assume you are using a matching set of pins (if not, the taper will probably be different, correct with a file) and that you are installing them in "facing" each other.

 

[Alex11]

It feels like I'm hitting something and it won't go through, I might be damaging something on the bicycle? BB? Is there anyway I can get it out by hitting the other end?
They are the same pins.

 

[Alex11]

any ideas?

 

[tyred]

Can you provide a photo?

 

[Alex11]

I can later!
`

 

[Alex11]

It is literally just stuck

 

[biggs682]

might need to file the cotter down a bit but you shouldnt have to ....

this bike malarky is great fun

 

[Alex11]

I can't get it out? Whack it harder to try and force it through?

 

[youngoldbloke]

You see why cotterless chainsets were such a welcome development?
"Whack it harder to try and force it through?"- NO, I would try to knock it back out - maybe using a drift. You want to be able to remove the cotter pin in the future. I never had to hammer them home really hard - just tap them in and tighten the nut (with washer between nut and crank). You may have to file the pins to get them in properly. I would also have put both pins in checking the cranks were in line before final tightening.

 

[Alex11]

They are a pain in the arse

 

[biggs682]

when all tight and working they are not a problem its just when you want to remove them and all is it is a pain

 

[Teuchter]

Just read all of this. Some great advice on this thread. My one experience with cotter pins was on an old Triumph Trafficmaster a few years ago when I bent one of the pins, effectively rivetting it in place trying to remove it. If I'd kept the nut loosely screwed on as recommended on page 1 of this thread I'd have avoided that.

Almost looking forward to the next time I try something like this... my Raleigh 3 speed has cotter pins.