Locking Pins

[Dennis Pereira]

Working on front end and wondering if the locking pin drives in flush ? Red book says to hammer in then tighten nut looks like I have about 1/8" sticking out . Should I tighten a little and try a bigger hammer ?

[700rpm]

Yours looks just about like mine on all my A's, not flush.

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by Dennis Pereira

Working on front end and wondering if the locking pin drives in flush ? Red book says to hammer in then tighten nut looks like I have about 1/8" sticking out . Should I tighten a little and try a bigger hammer ?

My brother's favorite tool: a bigger hammer!

As mentioned, yours look about right.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by Jim/TX/GA

My brother's favorite tool: a bigger hammer!

As mentioned, yours look about right.

Jim. You say you support all aspects of the hobby. Does that include turning an A into a hot rod ? Wayne

[Synchro909]

I've just gone through this when I found the king pin was loose in the eye of the axle. On Monday, I'm going t a friend's workshop and we will close the eye again. The COTTER PIN should look like your pictures show. All of my As are like that. I find a good way to make sure they are tight is to hold pressure on the nut with a ring spanner while I hit the head of the cotter pin with a hammer. With each blow, the spanner will turn a little more. Stop before you stretch the cotter pin.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I've just gone through this when I found the king pin was loose in the eye of the axle. On Monday, I'm going t a friend's workshop and we will close the eye again. The COTTER PIN should look like your pictures show. All of my As are like that. I find a good way to make sure they are tight is to hold pressure on the nut with a ring spanner while I hit the head of the cotter pin with a hammer. With each blow, the spanner will turn a little more. Stop before you stretch the cotter pin.

I assume you mean locking pin, not cotter pin.

If your locking pin goes in with the head flush, then I would say you have a bad axle. I fought this for two years before I gave up and found a good axle.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

I assume you mean locking pin, not cotter pin.

If your locking pin goes in with the head flush, then I would say you have a bad axle. I fought this for two years before I gave up and found a good axle.

No, I mean COTTER PIN, not a split pin. This is another term that has been corrupted over time in the US

[Mike V. Florida]

Yours look fine. How far it goes in is a function of the wear of the parts.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

No, I mean COTTER PIN, not a split pin. This is another term that has been corrupted over time in the US

What's the difference?
Here's pictures of what I call hair pins and cotter pins.

[Synchro909]

The picture posted my Mike (post #7) is a cotter pin. hey are also used in places like attaching the pedals to the shaft through the centre bracket of a bicycle.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

What's the difference?
Here's pictures of what I call hair pins and cotter pins.

Clip-hairpin Cotter Stainless Steel

[tbirdtbird]

the pic in #7 would never be termed a cotter pin in the USA

[Glenn C.]

The pic sent in by Mike as showing a "Spindle Pin Locking Pin" is correct as per the original Ford parts book of 1931. Part #A-3122C

[100IH]

HERE HERE, due to the world wide nature of the Model A. the original parts book should be the last word for differing terms that confuse so many threads and discussions. Dennis Pereria did begin with the correct term. Well meaning barners twisted the issue to get all the juice out as frequently happens.

[700rpm]

"What we have here is a failure to communicate." -Cool Hand Luke

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

the pic in #7 would never be termed a cotter pin in the USA

I have noted that. I'm not sure whether in the US, it was ever called a cotter pin but it seems to me that something has gone awry over there and the names have changed. Now, just to throw a little more fuel on the fire (not gas because you can't throw a gas), I ask "Where does a ring gear go?" Answer: On the flywheel.

[Dennis Pereira]

I'm not sure if the issue is solved on the proper name of the locking pin but with a mix of factory and after market parts she's going back together better than she came apart .

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Dennis Pereira

I'm not sure if the issue is solved on the proper name of the locking pin but with a mix of factory and after market parts she's going back together better than she came apart .

That's what it's all about. May I suggest you get those pins (call them tapered lock pins or cotter pins - who cares) tight by applying pressure with a ring spanner on the nuts while giving the other end of the pin a whack with a hammer. You'll be surprised how far the spanner turns with each blow. Don't get too enthusiastic, though.

[Dennis Pereira]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

That's what it's all about. May I suggest you get those pins (call them tapered lock pins or cotter pins - who cares) tight by applying pressure with a ring spanner on the nuts while giving the other end of the pin a whack with a hammer. You'll be surprised how far the spanner turns with each blow. Don't get too enthusiastic, though.

There's a little black paint on the old pins that marks the depth the old pins were set maybe 1/16" more . I think a box wrench is the same as a ring spanner ? but I have the big hammer part down pat .

[Jim/GA]

Yes, a ring spanner is the same as a box wrench in America.

And a big hammer is, well... a big hammer!

[tbirdtbird]

" I think a box wrench is the same as a ring spanner"
That is the conclusion I came to.

We will all just have to accept there are differences in usage among various countries. Bonnet, hood; crown wheel, ring gear; cotter pin, taper pin; take a slash, take a whiz; and so on. It just is.

I had a devil of a time reading an English service manual on a Rolls when I encountered the term, 'distance piece'. WTH is that I said. I went onto a worldwide refrigeration board that I am on frequented by Limeys and they confirmed that it simply meant 'spacer'
gee why didn't you say so LOL

[Synchro909]

If a ring spanner is known as a box wrench, what is a socket spanner called. Seems to me that Box wrench would be a closer name for a socket. Socket spanners:
[url]www.google.com.au/search?q=image+of+socket+spanner&espv=2&biw=1242&b ih=606&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEw j124vHvNHOAhWEj5QKHYXODEgQsAQIGg[/url
Imagine my confusion when I read about a ZERK. WTF is that, I thought. Good old Mr Google came to the rescue again.

[Tom Wesenberg]

We simply call them sockets, and they are mostly 6 point sockets and 12 points sockets, but sometimes you can find 4 point and 8 point sockets. Points = number of flats.

[ian Simpson]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I've just gone through this when I found the king pin was loose in the eye of the axle. On Monday, I'm going t a friend's workshop and we will close the eye again. The COTTER PIN should look like your pictures show. All of my As are like that. I find a good way to make sure they are tight is to hold pressure on the nut with a ring spanner while I hit the head of the cotter pin with a hammer. With each blow, the spanner will turn a little more. Stop before you stretch the cotter pin.

Luv it when a bloke uses real English.

The cotter pins on my Tudor are about 1/8 inch proud.

Another name for a big hammer - Glasgow screwdriver.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by ian Simpson

Luv it when a bloke uses real English.

The cotter pins on my Tudor are about 1/8 inch proud.

Another name for a big hammer - Glasgow screwdriver.

Another name for a hammer - an adjuster. The bigger the hammer,the finer the adjuster.