Re: M_Boats: Cotter Rings
Bill Combs (ttursine@gnt.net)
Mon, 17 May 1999 23:19:22 -0500
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Last summer we were sailing my M17 on Lake Mille Lacs here in Minnesota.
> The wind was 20 to 30 knots and we were beating upwind into 4 foot waves
> under double reefed main and reefed jib. Suddenly the windward upward
> shroud was dangling uselessly. Fortunately the lower shroud kept the mast
> up. We fell off the wind to take off some of the pressure and I got out my
> spare parts and put it back together in short order. In inspecting the
> other cotter rings I noticed that many have small dings in them. I suspect
> they can develop stress cracks and break, or there may be small defects
> from manufacturing which act as stress risers and cause them to fracture.
> Jim kimmet
> M17 "Blue Skies"
Cotter rings (or whatever they're really called) are inherently
unsafe. I've seen a bunch let go, always the same way: something snags
them and expands the circle axially. From there it's only a matter of
time 'til the ring works it's way out of the hole in the clevis pin.
They like to turn circumferentially when the pin is working or
vibrating.
That's why I don't use them.
Regards,
Bill Combs
WWP 19 #439 (Aug 1987)
"Ursa Minor"
Fort Walton Beach FL
ttursine@gnt.net