Originally Posted by
USAZorro
I just saw the most recent beater challenge and thought back to the star-crossed 1970 Raleigh Record that I picked up for $20 last summer. I was inspired and motivated. I have a fine cotter pin press that I've made good use of on other cranks.
This one bent in the channel - on the drive side naturally. I've tried pushing it back. I've tried putting a ball bearing between the jaws of the press and the butt end of the cotter pin, I've tried a punch and hammer. Reluctant to try a drill, as I don't have a vise or a drill press. Does anyone have a brilliant idea that will get this unstuck, so that I can finish the refurb and get it placed in a new home?
Is the other crank arm still there? Can you ride it? I've read that doing so without the nut dislodges the cotter pretty quickly. Haven't done it myself. The one bike for which I removed cotters did so pretty easily with the socket and huge c-clamp trick, but that won't work with a bent cotter, I suspect.