How should you dispose of a cotter pin that has been previously bent?

When it comes to disposing of a cotter pin that has been previously bent, the best practice is to discard it. Cotter pins are critical components used to secure other fasteners and maintain stability in assemblies. If a cotter pin has been bent, it may have lost its structural integrity and ability to function properly.

Attempting to straighten and reuse a bent cotter pin could lead to failure during operation, potentially resulting in safety hazards or mechanical failure in the assembly it was meant to secure. Using a damaged cotter pin as a temporary fix or storing it for future use is also inadvisable, as both actions carry the risk of compromising the reliability of mechanical systems. Therefore, the safest and most responsible option is to discard any cotter pin that is no longer in its proper condition.