Why Cotter Pins

[david7]

Hey guys,

So I spent an hour in a bosuns chair just to get the cotter pins loose. I understand that you don't want them coming loose unintentionally but isn't there a better way? If it's the same metal wouldn't a key ring work just as well? It definitely won't slip out and it's 1000 times easier to get on and off. Just curious...there has to be a reason that's what everyone uses. I just don't get it.

[Dsanduril]

We switched to split rings (key rings) something like 15 years ago for most of our rigging cotter pins. More to avoid snags on lines and sails than anything else. Not as easy to put in, but don't find them any harder to take out. Just have to find them in the right materials, but they are available.

[Chasing Summer]

It's a usually just a simple matter of cost and ease of stocking a supply ... cotter pins are cheaper.

[bobconnie]

Cotter keys, and riggin tape, never loose em. never come out till ya pry em out! and a hundred of em will fit almost anywhere. And even WM sells em fairly cheap!! If ya put em in right and tape em you never lose one or cut yourself, or get one of those darn coil ones hooked to your shirt or something like that !!! some Old stuff just works better!!

[roverhi]

You don't need to turn the cotter pin into a pretzel for it to work. Just split the legs 20 degrees or so. Will be way easier to set up in the first place and so so much easier to remove when the time comes.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by roverhi

You don't need to turn the cotter pin into a pretzel for it to work. Just split the legs 20 degrees or so. Will be way easier to set up in the first place and so so much easier to remove when the time comes.

Olin Stephens carried a special 10 degree wedge for this purpose everywhere he went. He was really anal about it, insisted on no more than 10 degree for optimal longevity and strength, combined with ease of pulling.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by minaret

Olin Stephens carried a special 10 degree wedge for this purpose everywhere he went. He was really anal about it, insisted on no more than 10 degree for optimal longevity and strength, combined with ease of pulling.

I like to leave shorter leg straight and just bend the longer leg by 10 to 20 degrees but then I am no expert (although possibily anal )

[beverley]

Just to be clear - are you referring to SPLIT PINS?

Cotter (pin) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Split pin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Cheek Wind]

That terminology is correct for the U.K, otherwise it is a cotter pin.

[sartorst]

I had been changing out pins for rings until they started getting hung on sheets sails etc then they become meat hooks ! even had a few pulled out so I went back to pins

[barnakiel]

I use Swedish rings on our lower rigging and pins elsewhere, I open them about 20 degrees or so - never a problem removing ours.

None pulled out by accident either. I tape the ones that may come in contact with other equipment.

b.

[Blue Stocking]

Good riggers have told me that the length of split (UK), cotter (US--and the rest of the world ) should be 1.5 times the diameter of the clevis pin, one leg opened, and dabbed with silicone, then taped.

[ReMetau]

I roll the ends of my pins inward so as to not snag anything. We used to use key ring style rings, but found that they bent too easy and came out too easy.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by ReMetau

I roll the ends of my pins inward so as to not snag anything. We used to use key ring style rings, but found that they bent too easy and came out too easy.

How so ? Curious

[JPA Cate]

Bluestocking,

Lines snag 'em and open them up. We've had it happen. I would never risk my rig with them, having seen so many fail.

Ann