Talk:Cotter (pin)

Split pin
Is there any evidence that the term cotter pin is used to refer to a split pin holding a cotter nut in place? Citation please? In the UK the term cotter pin is used to refer to a cotter as described here, and the other device has always been called a split pin.--Memestream (talk) 13:30, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

It's standard usage in the US to call the split pin that used to hold a cotter or other pins (like a clevis pin) in place a "cotter pin" or a "cottor key". (I rather expect that which is used is a regional thing.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.227.18.86 (talk) 02:01, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

Removed text
I have removed the following comment (bracket part of original text) from the article, as editorial comments such as this should not appear in the main text. I have no idea whether the text is accurate or not, but it cannot appear in this form. I propose that a decision be taken on this page as to the correct usage, and the article be edited accordingly. If it is decided that there is more than one common usage (even if one is traditionally correct, but the other is notable as it is widespread) then the article should reflect this, but without containing self-referential, editorial commentry. I have no expertise on the matter of cotters, however, so will not be able to contribute further.

The original text:

[This is fundamentally wrong - the well-defined and understood mechanical engineering term "Cotter" refers to a tapered wedge used to retain a crank to a shaft installed tangentially. A "Cotter Pin" is a wedge of circular section. There is no relation between a cotter and the "split pin" which seems to be gaining currency. It is incorrect. A "Split Pin" is used to close a clevis. --Che Gannarelli (talk) 10:54, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Potential ref
http://www.sizes.com/tools/cotter_pins.htm Wizard191 (talk) 22:39, 19 August 2009 (UTC)

WikiProject Cycling
Is it a appropriate for this to be a part of WikiProject Cycling? The term "cotter" is a general term, whereas the bicycle crank cotter is a specific type of cotter. Mollynet (talk) 13:30, 20 May 2011 (UTC)
 * The article is in, so I would say yes, it is appropriate. Perhaps you would question that categorisation though? SeveroTC 07:04, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Move back
I think the recent move from Cotter to Cotter (pin) is probably a mistake because it will only add to the evident confusion. It does not help that the move was made without tagging or discussion. It is actually quite simple: the wedge device is a cotter in all regional variants of English, while cotter pin is the American English term for the bent wire device known in British English as a split pin, presumably because it can be used to retain a cotter. The correct engineering term for a cotter that happens to be of circular cross-section is still cotter, not cotter pin, whatever some cyclists may think, and even though they are used in rather different applications. However, in general classification, all these things are indeed pins. The use of cotter as opposed to cotter pin, even when circular, is pretty general, eg: Workshop Hints & Tips by Geometer; Machine Design, Construction and Drawing, Spooner. That this article currently only deals with the circular cotter as used in bicycles does not help, and illustrations of other applications would be a great improvement.

I think it worked better before being tinkered with. This article should revert to Cotter and the current Cotter should revert to Cotter (disambiguation), on the ground that this is the primary topic. Globbet (talk) 01:21, 17 November 2012 (UTC)