Originally Posted by
wearyourtruth
+1 on buying a crank puller and everyone else's remarks about deforming your cranks.
as for flipping the spindle... don't, if your crank is too far out on the right side, it'll feel even FARTHER out on the left, you might even hit your ankle on the arm when pedaling.
also, for the record, there was a long time when every bike was a fixed gear with cottered cranks... not the best technology, but certainly functional when used correctly.
Once upon a time cottered cranks were the most commonly used technology and were often of much better quality... when square tapered cranks replaced them they were relegated to entry level models and remained as a fixture on nicer three speeds.
There are some bikes in my collection that will never see a bb / crank upgrade and if a cottered crank is properly maintained it can have a very long service life.
And those old chain wheels can be beautiful.
In most cases it is better to replace them as you will get a more easily serviced component and lighten up the bike by about a pound.