You are reading a single comment by @Jonny69 and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@Jonny69
There are metric and imperial cotters - you'll have to measure yours to see which ones you need.
As per @Big_Block 's link, there are different types and grades. NOS old ones are best. These are the hardest and strongest, in my experience. Even the original ones in a set of cranks will be better than new ones.
New ones are softer and the threads shear off far easier. Originals, I believe, were rolled, while almost all modern ones are machined. Machine cut threads are not as strong as rolled threads and shear easily - end of story. They're rubbish, basically, but you can still use them.
Do not use the nut to pull the cotter into place. You'll shear the thread this way. It needs hammering in to start with and the nut holds it in place. This means it needs to be the right shape and the taper may need filing. Just to pre-warn you, all the modern ones I've used have needed regular attention and often look completely deformed if you take them out.
There is also a good way and a bad way up to put them. Not mechanically, just that one way up your flares will constantly get tangled up on the nut, whereas the other way up they do not. I'll be damned if I can remember which way though...