In a message dated 1/12/04 1:02:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, bcschrader@yahoo.com writes: I have overhauled hundreds if not thousands of cottered cranks. Certainly not a record, but enough so that I have established some methods and theories that suit me. They certainly differ from many other ideas and opinions but here they are for your reading pleasure.
First: When installing a cotter pin (or whatever you choose to call it) I PRESS it in rather than drive it in with a hammer or any other impact method. I don't know of anyone who still sells new presses. Park discontinued theirs recently. Used presses are getting a pretty good price on ebay etc. They are generally a heavy duty "C clamp" though I remember using some long, two handed, lever presses years ago snip
Bruce makes some good points and I'm near the 1000 club for pins. The press is a fine idea, but I've used one just a few times, mostly on classic nickled or chromed pins, like the ones on my ordinaries.
The press to which Bruce refers is the Var and is a large unit with the classic wrinkle-finish green.
It's one of the few tools as heavy as some frames.
Larry Black
Mt airy , Md.