Originally Posted by
w1gfh
My 1968 Raleigh Sports has recently developed a loose cotter in one of the cranks, exhibiting about 1/4" of noticeable play. Raleigh logo nuts are still on the cotters, so this may be the original set. My options, as far as I know, are something along the lines of....
1. Whack the cotter with a hammer and then try to tighten tighten the cotter nut. ($ Free)
2. Bring it to a Boston-area bike shop and pay to have cotters removed, replaced and retightened. ($ Unknown)
3. Buy the Bikesmith cotter press ($59 + shipping) and a couple of replacement cotters.
Advice?
Might as well start with #1. What have you got to lose? I'd support the crank on a scrap piece of pipe to prevent damage to the BB. See
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cotters.html
You could try the Harbor Freight Cotter press someone on here built, too. The Bikesmith press works very well, though.