Wanted: Someone with several different sizes of cotter pin.

I need a cotter pin, but unfortunately have no way of accurately measuring the size i need it looks to be about 9mm, so if anyone has a few, would they mind if i dropped by and put a few of their pins in my whole? (pun intended). Thanks again

also, the crank is a milremo if that helps at all.... also, how do i donate to the forum? just realised how much i rely on it to keep my old bike running!

there's only 2 sizes really, 3/8" Imperial (about 9.4mm) and metric (9mm dead). 9mm fit french, italian and other continental cranks and milremo is a continental maker so a 9mm pin (from almost all LBS) should do. If it falls straight through the hole then the crank is imperial sized (even though it's a french company) so you need an imperial 3/8" pin. the correct pin probably won't go through easily first time as cotters are designed to be filed to fit and will still need to be twatted pretty hard to settle it in place, best of luck

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PAIR-CHROMED-9mm-CONTINENTAL-COTTER-PINS-/370438016805?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item563fd38f25

He has got imperial ones as well.

aye, cheers mate, had a look at ebay's selection. really need one sooner though! bike is fully out of action!

we've got both sizes in our shop....would disagree with "twatting" as they will then often get a ridge on the flats and work loose again after a week or so although I do accept this is the popular method of fitting, traditionally cotter pins are filed on the flats and then simply tightened up with the locking nut to seat them correctly I've used this method for years with no problems and to remove just undo the nut a few turns until it's level with the top of the thread then a sharp precise tap with a hammer on the nut will pop them out quite easily, also when fitting they should be fitted upside down to each other

Do you need 1 or 2? The reason i ask is i had a similar problem and only needed one. So have a spare in the size you need.

would disagree with "twatting" as they will then often get a ridge on the flats and work loose again after a week or so

Exactly what i did unfortunately... amateur mistake!

Do you need 1 or 2? The reason i ask is i had a similar problem and only needed one. So have a spare in the size you need.

Dude I only need 1, pm'ed!

just putting the pin in and tightening the nut is a bad idea, in order to get it tight enough to actually hold your cranks in place you'd just strip the thread. you should:

1. put one cotter through the crank
   
2. tap it into place
   
3. if it doesn't fit quite all the way through remove it with one hard tap from the other side and file it a little
   
4. try again, if it still doesn't fit repeat 3.
   
5. when it finally does fit right you'll need to twat it hard to settle it in place, then tighten the nut, spanner-tight
   
6. fit the other in the same way, from the opposite direction
   
7. after 2 weeks they'll probably come a little loose, as soon as this happens wallop the pins *then * tighten the nut, they'll probably last you a good 25 years if fitted properly!