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Post by franco on May 18, 2020 19:33:32 GMT
Be interested to hear people’s views on this, especially anyone that worked on them in Bicycle Shops back in the day. I know there was a cotter press available years ago, but they now sell for silly money. Someone has made a reproduction version of one, I forget who now, but that isn’t far off £100 either. Saw THIS on eBay, obviously someone else’s version and I’m wondering if I should give it a try. I’ve been using a large G Clamp with a socket underneath for the pin to push into with mixed results. Tried other methods as well like a block of wood with a hole drilled to knock the pin into and a Car ball joint splitter like this  |
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Post by wheelson on May 18, 2020 23:14:28 GMT
Haven't seen this one before. I only have one bike, a '60s Motobecane Cyclotouriste, that uses cotter pins. Many on the Classic Rendezvous list swear by this one: bikesmithdesign.com/CotterPress/ I may have to invest in one before its over as the Moto project is getting near completion. Best, John "wheelson" Wilson |
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Post by brianbutler on May 19, 2020 0:16:56 GMT
I have the Bikesmith Design cotter press and it is a flawless tool, well designed and manufactured. It makes cotter pin removal and installation nearly effortless without damaging the pins or anything else. I have used it dozens of times on a variety of English and French cottered cranks. Highly recommended and definitely worth the price if you plan to work on more than a few bikes with cottered cranks.
I also have the Bikesmith Designs bottom bracket fixed cup tool that is also a work of art and engineering. It solves the problem of removing the BB cups (especially right hand cups) with the shallow 5/8" flats, without rounding the flats. This tool has also worked flawlessly on many cups that I had otherwise been unable to remove.
Someone else in the vicinity of Bikesmith Designs (Minnesota) either makes, or is planning to make, a tool to remove the right hand ball ring on Sturmey Archer AW hubs. It fits the notches in the ball ring like the old SA tool (no longer available) did, so you can disassemble the hub without damaging the notches with punches, etc. I do not have this tool but wish I did. I forget who makes this tool but he is a friend of Bikesmith Desgns.
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Post by franco on May 19, 2020 8:05:57 GMT
That’s the one I couldn’t remember the name of! Bikesmith. $69 though, that’s more than what I paid for some of my bikes  Going to give it some thought, I’ve got four bikes with cottered cranks and worked on a few that I’ve sold on. |
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Post by cusqueno on May 19, 2020 8:21:10 GMT
My first 'real' bike was an anonymous racer that came with a pull chain rear mech, so it might have only been four speeds - can't remember - and a suicide lever front derailleur. It also had cottered cranks and wrestling with cotter pins - hammers and files - gave me a loathing of cottered cranks that has lasted to this day. Perhaps if I'd had a tool like that it would be different and perhaps I would be inspired to build up that Viscount Delta folder frame that was at the back of my shed, which has hefty cottered cranks.
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Post by franco on May 19, 2020 11:11:16 GMT
My first 'real' bike was an anonymous racer that came with a pull chain rear mech, so it might have only been four speeds - can't remember - and a suicide lever front derailleur. It also had cottered cranks and wrestling with cotter pins - hammers and files - gave me a loathing of cottered cranks that has lasted to this day. Perhaps if I'd had a tool like that it would be different and perhaps I would be inspired to build up that Viscount Delta folder frame that was at the back of my shed, which has hefty cottered cranks. Haha, I had all the usual cottered bikes when I was a kid: Raleigh Commando, Boxer, Tommahawk and then I got a BMX with them, an Iron Horse Dirt Burner. Many an unhappy hour was spent with my brother trying belt the things in with a hammer for them to come lose again the following day. I think that’s partly fuelled a bit of an obsession with them though, getting them right, and I seem to attract them as well. The Colorado has them, both the 3 Speeds and a Viking Mixte. I do like the aesthetics of the cranks how each company had their own emblem, it’s a unique thing that was mostly lost when everyone went onto generic mass produced cotterless cranks. |
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Post by brianbutler on May 19, 2020 11:24:54 GMT
That’s the one I couldn’t remember the name of! Bikesmith. $69 though, that’s more than what I paid for some of my bikes Going to give it some thought, I’ve got four bikes with cottered cranks and worked on a few that I’ve sold on. After 40 years of periodically buying better (i.e. more expensive) bikes and having the local shop maintain them, I decided that instead of spending $2000 for the next bike, I would invest $1500 in tools and have $500 left over for bikes, enough to keep me in fixer-uppers for the duration and provide an interesting hobby in the bargain. Since then, if I need a tool, I buy it without hesitation, even if I think I might use it infrequently. Having the right tool is almost as much fun having the right bike. |
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Post by franco on May 19, 2020 12:41:08 GMT
That’s the one I couldn’t remember the name of! Bikesmith. $69 though, that’s more than what I paid for some of my bikes Going to give it some thought, I’ve got four bikes with cottered cranks and worked on a few that I’ve sold on. After 40 years of periodically buying better (i.e. more expensive) bikes and having the local shop maintain them, I decided that instead of spending $2000 for the next bike, I would invest $1500 in tools and have $500 left over for bikes, enough to keep me in fixer-uppers for the duration and provide an interesting hobby in the bargain. Since then, if I need a tool, I buy it without hesitation, even if I think I might use it infrequently. Having the right tool is almost as much fun having the right bike. I know Brian, I’m a carpenter so know you can’t cut corners regarding tools, just being a bit tight fisted about it! |
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Post by brianbutler on May 19, 2020 14:53:44 GMT
I hear you.
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Post by franco on May 23, 2020 21:13:25 GMT
Apparently the guy at Bikesmith isn’t operating at the moment due to Covid and having a heart condition. So I’ve ordered a ball joint splitter today, like this one  I replaced the single chainset with a double on the Viking Mixte today and whilst the large G Clamp eventually got the job done it’s not a battle I want every time I have to remove a cotter pin. |
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