How does a cotter pin/split pin secure other fasteners?

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I saw on Wikipedia the following

> Split pins are frequently used to secure other fasteners, e.g. [clevis pins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevis_pin), as well as being used in combination with [hardboard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardboard) discs as a traditional joining technique for [teddy bears](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_bear)

I don’t understand how such a small element would help secure other fasteners, say a nut for example. How does it secure it, I mean what value does it exactly add?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

A split pin can go through a drilled nut, through a gap in a castle nut, or outboard of a normal nut. In any case, it’s used because it is not subject to the same tendency to loosen due to vibration. If you’ve every dealt with a nut that has a burr in it, you know how a tiny piece of steel can prevent a large nut from moving. A split pin is the same idea, but introduced on purpose.

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