Cotter pin - hole alignment Castle Nut

Hendrik · Oct 31, 2011

What tricks do you use if the diametral hole in an axle or stud does not line up with one of the 6 grooves/indentations of a castle nut?
I do not want to back off the nut and cannot get it any tighter either. And I obviously want to mount the cotter pin.
Shims or thin washers? Bigger wrench?
Suggestions welcome!
Thanks, Hendrik

Mike M · Oct 31, 2011

Try another nut ? I also have turned some off them in the lathe too.

oldtanker · Oct 31, 2011

Whats it on? If a wheel you need to back it off some. On other things I get it as tight as I can and then back it off just far enough to get the pin in. Trying to force it further is only asking to strip or break something.

Rick

JOHNNYfromMI · Oct 31, 2011

Drill another cotterpin hole in the axel.
At a right angle to the first hole.
This gives you twice as many adjustments.

greygoat · Oct 31, 2011

Torque the nut to proper spec., then back off to
closest hole alignment, which will usually be
just a fraction of an inch!

Brian G. NY · Oct 31, 2011

Only a couple of times in my many years of tinkering with machines have I not been satisfied with the "fit" of a castellated nut.
As was said, you can usually back it off one slot.
On a couple of occasions, I have ground a "wee bit" off the back side of the nut on the flat side of a grinding wheel; a little at a time "til I liked the fit.

rustred · Oct 31, 2011

what is it on?, as that makes a diff.

60 acre hillside · Oct 31, 2011

A similar issue comes up with extremely high quality firearns when it is desirable to have all of the screwdriver slots aligned. They oftentimes dress the screw head. I am not that fussy

Hendrik · Oct 31, 2011

It is the nut holding the steering arm on the wormwheel shaft of the steering box of my Farmall Super A. The shaft is tapered and has a half moon key to hold the steering arm. The arm is held on the taper by the 7/8 inch (thread OD) nut. I know that the arm must be TIGHT on the shaft and I cannot back the castle nut off a bit to find the next slot for the cotter pin.
HTH, Hendrik

Russ from MN · Oct 31, 2011

I would probably put a thin spacer washer under it.

big fred · Oct 31, 2011

If you really feel it's important to maintain the same nut position, figure the angle that it would take to get the nut and hole to align, then, based on the pitch of the thread, calculate the distance the nut will advance over that angle. From that, you should be able to find a washer that will bring you back into alignment. You can then buy a bunch of washers and pick and choose to find one that does the job.

Yer gonna hafta do some math, though.

rustyfarmall · Oct 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 12:47:39 10/31/11) I would probably put a thin spacer washer under it.

Exactly!! Start with a common flat washer and then file it down until accomplish your goal.

Another thought--Maybe the nut itself is already worn down? Have you tried a new one?

Old Roy · Oct 31, 2011

If you can get it in one side.. take it off and widen the slot on the other side with a small cutoff wheel holding it in a pair of vise grips may be just booggered up a bit.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 31, 2011

Back the nut off until the castellated nut slots line up with the hole, then measure the gap with your feeler gauge if you can’t find a washer of the right thickness just makeup a stack of spacers using shim stock.

Hendrik · Nov 1, 2011

Thanks to all who responded.
Think I will first try the washer/shims route and use "big fred""s idea to determine the proper thickness.

Hendrik · Nov 1, 2011

Thanks to all who responded.
Think I will first try the washer/shims route and use "big fred""s idea to determine the proper thickness.

mark us · Nov 1, 2011

grinding a small even amount off the bottom of the nut will take care of your problem

Cotter pin - hole alignment Castle Nut

Hendrik

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Mike M

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oldtanker

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JOHNNYfromMI

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greygoat

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Brian G. NY

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rustred

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60 acre hillside

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Hendrik

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Russ from MN

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big fred

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rustyfarmall

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Old Roy

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Anonymous-0

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Hendrik

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Hendrik

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mark us

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