Having just serviced a Raleigh BB and crank, I would highly recommend using a cotter pin press to remove, install, or adjust the cotter pins. As tempting as it may look, hammers and cotter pins don't do well together. I destroyed one with a hammer and then consulted Barnett's manual and my LBS mechanic, both confirming that hammers are, indeed, deadly on cotter pins. Park used to make a press, but it is not shown in their current offerings. I was fortunate to be able to borrrow one from a very gracious LBS mechanic who loves the vintage machines, too.
--
Greg Thies
Vienna, Virginia
USA
> Iain Grant wrote:
> > Hi guys, please for give the lack of proper technical language, but I have a
> > technical question about an on-topic bike. I am currently riding around on
> > 1957 Allin Stan Butler Special (more detail and pictures can be found here:
> > http://www.mrtwig.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
> > surely fixing up mechanically (it's a lot more ridable than in those
> > pictures, but visibly not much different) while keeping it looking old and
> > rusty as a theft deterrent and because I cannot afford a full restoration.
> > Mechanically I've had no real problems that a little oil wouldn't cure, but
> > recently I noticed a pronounced 'waggle' to my pedals. I'll try to explain
> > that. If I hold one pedal firmly in place so it cannot move I am still able
> > to waggle the other pedal a good 1/8th of an inch backwards and forwards.
> > Something somewhere is loose or worn by years of riding. Now my hope is that
> > it may be the cotter pins, a they would be cheap and easy to replace,
> > compared some alternatives. Can anyone offer any suggestion as to the most
> > likely cause/ fix before I start disassembling my first BB, as I have no
> > other bike, and really need to keep this one on the road, so I would like to
> > make this fix as quick and painless as possible.
> >
> > Many thangs in advance,
> > Iain Grant, London, England.
> >
>
> You could try supporting the crank next to the cotter with something
> heavy (big hammer?) and hammering in the cotters a bit further as a
> temporary fix. Then tighten the nut to keep them in place. Full
> replacement is probably better though
>
>
> --
> mvg
>
> Marten Gerritsen
> Kiel Windeweer
> Netherlands
> ------------------------------