How the heck do I get this thing off? Sekine crankset
#26
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
#27
Jack of all trades
^I don't believe that the OP will consider a cotter pin press. I'm getting a magnitude of cottered cranks in my "world" and I'll never justify getting one myself!
In other words, if I can't McGuyver it, it doesn't merit my time...
In other words, if I can't McGuyver it, it doesn't merit my time...
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Kickstand.
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I don't think anybody's mentioned what a nightmare of a time you can have with a hammer and a jammed cotter pin made of cheese, all the best precautions notwithstanding.
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Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
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How the heck do I get this thing off? Sekine crankset
So I'm gathering that the best idea is to leave it alone. I'll do that.
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I used to tap them out gently with a hammer. I would unscrew the nut so that the nut and end of the pin were flush. Then tap with a hammer so it hits both the nut & pin at the same time. That spreads the load around a bit and less likely to mash the end of the pin & threads.
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I used to tap them out gently with a hammer. I would unscrew the nut so that the nut and end of the pin were flush. Then tap with a hammer so it hits both the nut & pin at the same time. That spreads the load around a bit and less likely to mash the end of the pin & threads.
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The conversation gets that nostalgic blacksmithy vibe about it.
__________________
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
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If you don't want to spend on a press, you can take off both wheels, get an assistant and use a big vise and a 1/2" nut as a press.
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I use a bench vise and socket with great success. I always works and usually leaves the cotter in good enough condition to reuse. Search this forum or google it to see the details.
Cottered cranks are not substandard equipment. They work great but do take a bit more effort to disassemble. I am looking for a cottered steel crankset for my commuting bike to replace the square taper set. I have broken too many alloy cranks to trust aluminum any more.
Cottered cranks are not substandard equipment. They work great but do take a bit more effort to disassemble. I am looking for a cottered steel crankset for my commuting bike to replace the square taper set. I have broken too many alloy cranks to trust aluminum any more.
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Sheesh, guys, there's a lot of hate for cottered cranks here! Let me make a couple general points.
If you hate cotters and want to rid the world of cottered cranks, you are not the right person to answer the question of how to service a cottered crank.
If a crank hasn't been overhauled in many years, you are likely to have trouble. But this is a general rule, not unique to junky cottered cranks.
Junky bikes tend to have junky components, and for the last 30-40 years cottered cranks have been relegated to junky bikes. Not surprisingly, a lot of them are junky. Junky components are hard to work with. Again, this is a general rule, not unique to junky cottered cranks.
Sometimes, it all goes wrong, even if you use the right tools and the right techniques. You can minimize the chances of this by using the right tools, or you can maximize the chances of this by using the wrong tools. Again, a general rule.
Okay, all that said, If you actually own a bike with a cottered crank, and you intend to maintain it properly, you should know how to do it.
First step, put away the hammer. Yes, you can remove cotters with a hammer, but it's not the best tool for the job. You can also remove a square taper crank with a hammer, but it's not the best tool for the job.
The bench vise and socket method is a good way to go if you don't have a cotter press. A drill press vise is easier to handle and is strong enough for the job. A ball joint separator also works pretty well. A lot of guys have made an excellent cotter press from a cheap chain breaker, but that requires a bit of work with a drill and a file.
If you hate cotters and want to rid the world of cottered cranks, you are not the right person to answer the question of how to service a cottered crank.
If a crank hasn't been overhauled in many years, you are likely to have trouble. But this is a general rule, not unique to junky cottered cranks.
Junky bikes tend to have junky components, and for the last 30-40 years cottered cranks have been relegated to junky bikes. Not surprisingly, a lot of them are junky. Junky components are hard to work with. Again, this is a general rule, not unique to junky cottered cranks.
Sometimes, it all goes wrong, even if you use the right tools and the right techniques. You can minimize the chances of this by using the right tools, or you can maximize the chances of this by using the wrong tools. Again, a general rule.
Okay, all that said, If you actually own a bike with a cottered crank, and you intend to maintain it properly, you should know how to do it.
First step, put away the hammer. Yes, you can remove cotters with a hammer, but it's not the best tool for the job. You can also remove a square taper crank with a hammer, but it's not the best tool for the job.
The bench vise and socket method is a good way to go if you don't have a cotter press. A drill press vise is easier to handle and is strong enough for the job. A ball joint separator also works pretty well. A lot of guys have made an excellent cotter press from a cheap chain breaker, but that requires a bit of work with a drill and a file.
Last edited by rhm; 11-01-13 at 10:39 AM.