Cotter Pin

[vadim]

Hi,

I need to tighten the chain on my bike and the manual says that the cotter pin should be replaced with a new one.  I am new to the cotter pin business... Can I buy a new one at the home depot or a similar store?  How do I go about getting a right size?  

Thanks,

-Vadim

P.S.  Is there no such thing as a stupid question?  :)

[PaulVS]

You'll probably get about a 50/50 response to that question.

I, for one, don't bother replacing the cotter pin until I've adjusted the chain about 2-3 times, unless of course I've broken it by taking it off.  

In my almost 30 years of owning a motorcycle... I've never had a rear axle bolt just 'get loose' on it's own.

You can get cotter pins at ANY hardware store.  Bring your old one with so you make sure you get the right size.

[txbanditrydr]

I saw a guy's B12 that used a hitch pin instead of a cotter pin.  Seems like that would hold up better and it sure looked better than a bent up cotter pin.  I might consider that when I replace mine.

[PeteSC]

You can reuse the cotter pin, until it begins to look a bit mangled....(or earlier)
  You can find them at Home Depot, might as well pick up a couple of extras.  I seem to lose one occasionally....either when adjusting the chain....or ??
 The hitch pins are cool, a little easier to use.    Whatever you use, grab a spare.....they're cheap.

[tacoman]

I wouldn't go without a pin.  I doubt the axle nut would fall off but it can vibrate loose.  This can let the rear wheel wobble just enough to get your sprockets out of alignment.  This happened on my dirt bike one time.  Ate the sprockets, chain, and the wheel bearings got a bunch of slop in them.  Cotter pins are cheap so don't go without them.

[KoolDawg6]

I clean/adjust/lube my chain every 500 miles and I always use a new cotter pin. At pennies each why not????? As for making it not "ugly looking" I place it in so the "loop" faces front to back(of the bike), the short end facing me,bend the short end up around the end of the bolt and clip it about halfway then push the remaining piece tight against the bolt and lastly clip the long piece sticking straight out all the way up to the nut. That makes for a clean look I feel.

[Red01]

The manual's answer is the safe one. In aircraft, you NEVER reuse a cotter pin. That being said though, in car applications, like the front wheel bearing retaining nut, I've been known to reuse a cotter pin. On my bikes though, I ditch the cotter pin for a hitch pin clip... but after having one stolen off my bike once years ago (I guess someone else thought it was a cool idea, too), I safety wire it in place so it can't be removed by the casual passer-by.

[B12Teuton]

You could just get some safety wire, but I use a pin 2-3 times and then replce it.  I bought a bag of pins at the Depot for a couple of bucks.  Enough to last years.

[turbo-bob]

You could just get some safety wire, but I use a pin 2-3 times and then replce it.  I bought a bag of pins at the Depot for a couple of bucks.  Enough to last years.

 

[billster]

a zip-tie around the hitch pin works too.

[Red01]

a zip-tie around the hitch pin works too.

I suppose it would. My reason for safetywire is to prevent the hitchpin from going home with a casual thief. A zip-tie can be quickly cut with a pocket knife. You'll need wire cutters to cut the wire, or pliers to untwist it. Sure, nowawdays a multi-tool is as common as a pocket knife, but hopefully I'm making it more work than its worth for the thief and they'll leave it alone.
(Plus, I have plenty of safetywire.)