VAR makes (or made) are really nice little fixture that fits in a bench vice, that holds cotter pins while you file them for a better fit. Highly recommended!!!
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, California
Bob Reid wrote:
>
> I have to ask if it's really necessarry to install the cotter pin with a
> tool in the first place ? - My father taught me fairly early on that using
> any kind of tool (or hammer for that matter) to seat a cotter pin on the
> crank meant that it was going to be all the harder and more difficult to
> remove it the next time. He seemed to an age with engineers marking fluid
> ("blue") and a fine file, getting a "better" fit on a new cotter pin so it
> was well seated on the axle, rather than just taking a big hammer to the
> back of it and making it fit. This was perhaps taking it a little too far
> but I suppose he had a point, and I don't recall his cranks ever loosening
> off, and the better fit onto the surface of the axle flat ought to reduce
> the risk of slippage / movement under load. Other than that you should get
> it tight enough using the nut supplied.
>
> Best Regards
>
> Bob (cotterless ? - It'll never catch on) Reid
> Stonehaven
> Scotland