John and fellow CR listers,
The thread regarding cotter pins amazes me as a cyclist here in the UK that has 'grown up' with cotters from the 1950's to date (and still using them), when discussions abound regarding positioning.
The 'head' of the cotter always 'leads' the stoke, thereby giving the strongest point of energy on the down stroke using the strongest point of the cotter against the flat of the axle to reduce stress.
That way one also ensures that the cranks align perfectly.
Happy 'pinning'
Derek Athey Honiton, Devon UK
On Fri, May 14, 2010 at 7:56 PM, John Betmanis <johnb@oxford.net> wrote:
> On 14/05/2010 12:47 PM, verktyg wrote:
>
> I remember seeing a bike once with the left crank arm installed backwards!
>>
>
> While on the subject of cottered cranks, what is considered to be the
> correct direction to insert cotters in the cranks? Both cottered bikes I
> have here have the nuts leading when the cranks turn in the forward
> direction. However, from looking at many bikes on the web, I see a fair
> number that have the cotters inserted in the opposite direction.
>
>
> --
> John Betmanis
> Woodstock, Ontario
> Canada