Greetings,
The topic of removing cotter pins is timely. Last weekend while dis-assembling a Frejus, I experimented with a new method of cotter pin removal which I would like to share. My thought was to use items that most of us have in the garage or tool box. A nice cotter pin removal tool is is a fine tool to have, but in a pinch a c-clamp works pretty well. I used a c-clamp, an axle spacer, a washer and a hammer. On the stationary pad of the c-clamp, I placed the spacer over the non nutted end of the pin. On the swivel end of the c-clamp I used the washer against the nut, which I had reversed so that the slightly domed and visible end of the nut would avoid any possible damage. Being careful to keep the spacer and washer centered against the pads and over the centerline of the pin, I tightened the clamp until it became difficult to turn the screw, but not so tight that the pin bent. Be careful with this. Then I lightly tapped against the end of the handle, or screw end of the c-clamp, and after three or four solid taps, the pin popped right out. I used this method on both pins, and had no damaged threads or bent pins. I was very happy with the results, especially since I had totally ruined a pair of pins trying to remove them from my Raleigh Twenty about six months ago using other recommended methods. No doubt there are other excellent methods that other list members have successefully used; this is my two cents. I can't guarantee anything, but if I was able to remove pins from a 60's crank, it might work in other situations. I imagine that reversing the process will work for installing the pins. If anyone is anyone is interested, I have posted photos showing the steps at:
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/
Thanks for the space.
Jay Sexton
Sebastopol, CA