I must be getting old...
Thinking that you get spare bit for bikes in Halfrauds, I went in to get a set of cotter pins for an old bicycle my daughter uses.
Me: Hi, do you have any cotter pins?
Spotty pre-pubescent assistant: What are those then?
Me: They used to hold the pedals on in the seventies...
Spotty pre-pubescent assistant: Oh. We don't keep part for old bikes.
Whats a cotter pin??? 
. Arse!
Sorry, I dont know what a cotter pin is either. . . .
Spilt pin!
Adrian
horrid things, I never could get them out.
[Edited on 19/11/12 by big_wasa]
That's not a cotter pin wasa? That's a tapered axle (still exist, though usually square taper).
This is a cotter pin:
I would call a split pin a split pin, a cotter pin is the thing with an angled shaved edge that pins the pedal arms to the crank.
But then I am old, how do they secure pedal arms to cranks these days?
Big_wasa' pic
[Edited on 19/11/12 by mark chandler]
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
horrid things, I never could get them out.
[Edited on 19/11/12 by big_wasa]
Cotter pins are the tapered pins that hold cranks to old bikes & kingpins into axle ends on old vehicles, if they dont go in the first couple of
sharp knocks with a hammer they'll be a right cnut!
A split pin is a split pin.
Current method:
Cotter pin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotter_pin
I've apparently always known the US version 
[Edited on 19/11/12 by coyoteboy]
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
horrid things, I never could get them out.
[Edited on 19/11/12 by big_wasa]
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
That's not a cotter pin wasa? That's a tapered axle (still exist, though usually square taper).
This is a cotter pin:
- split pin in English
Taken from wikipedia, so it must be true !
Cotter pin may refer to:
In U.S. usage:
Split pin, a metal fastener with two tines that are bent during installation used to fasten metal together, like with a staple or rivet
Hairpin cotter pin, more commonly known as an "R-clip"
Bowtie cotter pin, a vibration-proof type of R-clip that is shaped like a bowtie
Circle cotter, a ring-shaped cotter pin
In British usage:
Cotter (pin), in mechanical engineering a pin or wedge passing through a hole to fix parts tightly together
This usage difference is often a cause of confusion when companies of both countries work together.
beaten to it by mook
[Edited on 19/11/12 by big_wasa]
[Edited on 19/11/12 by big_wasa]
Wasa's picture IS a cotter pin.
A "split pin"as in the other picture, is actually really called a "split cotter pin" and something entirely different thing.
Big Wasa (and Mark Chandler) are right, Coyoteboy obviously works at Halfrauds 
They are now secured by having a square, tapered bottom bracket shaft, with a matching square tapered hole in the pedal crank, the ends of the shaft
have a fine-pitch thread into which a bolt is screwed to retain the crank, this is recessed into the body of the pedal, then finished off with a
plastic cap.
See pic on the link --->
linky
The exception to this is BMXs which have a one-piece crank.
I was thinking a cotter pin was the one in the back wheel that allowed you to freewheel
Yep, I'm with wasa on this. Its the taper jobby
Leave this nut on loosely and whack it with a club hammer. If yer lucky it'll come loose.
Looks like I'll have to try a proper bike shop, as I'm guessing the eBay ones will be made of chocolate...
Interesting about the American connection. Never expected that.
quote:
Originally posted by Xtreme Kermit
Yep, I'm with wasa on this. Its the taper jobby
Leave this nut on loosely and whack it with a club hammer. If yer lucky it'll come loose.
Looks like I'll have to try a proper bike shop, as I'm guessing the eBay ones will be made of chocolate...
Interesting about the American connection. Never expected that.
From the Colonies, a split pin in North America is called a cotter pin. The metal retainer which holds the axle nut from unwinding and falling off the spindle closely fallowed by the front wheel.
I was in there out of desperation on sunday after brake bleed nipples for an MX5, 'huh' was my response
definitely the tapered one a split pin is as it says a pin that splits usaully used through a castleated nut fitted many of these on Raleigh choppers oh and on the bottom of the Austin a35 Kingpins
I was asked what a Sierra was last year at my local Halfords.
A different type of cotter pin used to hold the handbrake cable into the lever on back axles. It was like a nail with a hole drilled in for a split pin to go through.
Yes I remember Cotter Pins, I used to stock up on them back in my cycling years, but your story reminded me of another example of stupidity with
todays shop staff. About 15 years ago, when I was Hillclimbing, I took a brand new set of Yoko slicks and some wheels to Kwickfit, I was stood there a
good 20 mins before getting the attention of someone, despite them knowing I was there. After a while I had to go over to a guy after someone wwho had
just walked in got their problem sorted out in seconds, the guy said " I am not putting those tyres on those wheels because they are totally
bald"....... I kid you not they were the words he used.... I said I know they are bald, I paid dam good money for them to be such.... This
confused him somewhat, and went to fetch his boss..... Who apologised and gave me a discount for the wasted time and ignorant staff...
The lad wasn't there a week after that.....
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisL
I was in there out of desperation on sunday after brake bleed nipples for an MX5, 'huh' was my response
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisL
I was in there out of desperation on sunday after brake bleed nipples for an MX5, 'huh' was my response
I've had real trouble finding bleed nipples locally. I did manage to find a lorry mechanic who had a big stash though.
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
A different type of cotter pin used to hold the handbrake cable into the lever on back axles. It was like a nail with a hole drilled in for a split pin to go through.
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
A different type of cotter pin used to hold the handbrake cable into the lever on back axles. It was like a nail with a hole drilled in for a split pin to go through.
So what are the little doodaads called that resemble a very small tube with a slit down one side (from end to end)?. Needed one a few weeks ago and no idea what they're called!
A Roll pin ?
quote:
Big Wasa (and Mark Chandler) are right, Coyoteboy obviously works at Halfrauds They are now secured by having a square, tapered bottom bracket shaft, with a matching square tapered hole in the pedal crank, the ends of the shaft have a fine-pitch thread into which a bolt is screwed to retain the crank, this is recessed into the body of the pedal, then finished off with a plastic cap. See pic on the link ---> linky The exception to this is BMXs which have a one-piece crank.
Plus in many years of engineering have never had to resort to a cotter pin 
FWIW I have just found this etymology online:
"The terms cotter and "cotter pin" are sometimes used interchangeably, although they have different functions. Basically a cotter holds
parts together and a "cotter pin" holds the cotter in its place."
Which is the way I'd always assumed it to be, but who knows
ebay for fronts and mx-5 parts for rears, re cotter pins, I'm in the wedge bolt thing camp