What IS this sh*t, kryptonite!?

[Tommy Boy]

For the do-it-yourselfers out there, I have a recommendation.

Never, I repeat, never try to drill out a rusted, frozen, broken cotter pin in the front spindle of your riding lawnmower. Having tried a pin punch, heating, penetrating oil, and gobs of sweat, I made the mistake of doing just that. Now 7 bits later (including titanium and cobalt) on my trusty press geared as low as she'll go, drilling in an oil bath, I am literally less than halfway through the spindle.

And here I thought it'd be a good idea to open the bore up a little and use a bolt instead. Superman has met his match, looks like.

 

[t0x1k]

Cotter pins and tension pins suck cause the seams bind up the drill bit.
Get out the torch!

 

[mike75925]

were both legs of the cotter pin in the hole? i can't say i ever had that much trouble.

 

[BradenM]

Dy-no-mite Time

 

[ed1380]

hole punch? and punch them out?

 

[EagleTalons]

Wallet? New riding lawnmower?

 

[motor_head]

Wallet? New riding lawnmower?

what a waste of money his works fine just a simple problem

 

[EagleTalons]

Well my fix is pretty darn simple.

 

[frederic]

An old trick - take an old drill bit that's a hair smaller in diameter than the hole, shove it in shank first, then gently tap it repeatedly with a hammer. Soak in PB Blaster or WD40 first.

Usually they come right out. I keep worn drill bits specifically for this reason - they're hardened steel or tool steel depending, so they're not going to bend like mild steel.

Wear goggles of course just in case they fracture, which should not happen because you shouldn't have to beat it to death with both hands.

I remove automotive cotters the same way, but obviously I use larger diameter drill bits ;-)

 

[porsche930dude]

An old trick - take an old drill bit that's a hair smaller in diameter than the hole, shove it in shank first, then gently tap it repeatedly with a hammer. Soak in PB Blaster or WD40 first.

Usually they come right out. I keep worn drill bits specifically for this reason - they're hardened steel or tool steel depending, so they're not going to bend like mild steel.

Wear goggles of course just in case they fracture, which should not happen because you shouldn't have to beat it to death with both hands.

I remove automotive cotters the same way, but obviously I use larger diameter drill bits ;-)

Thats a good idea i usually bend over about a thousand nails before i get the job done

 

[BradenM]

Or fill hole with gunpowder and light fuse. Even if it doesn't come out; you had fun.













But seriously, don't.

 

[squat251]

Or fill hole with gunpowder and light fuse. Even if it doesn't come out; you had fun.













But seriously, don't.

to be and to last....indeed