Sorry if I appear pedantic, but I hope you mean roll pins as split pins are unsuitable.
Please don't think I'm correcting your terminology for the sake of it. I've had enough hassle elsewhere for people to think that of me....
I don't understand:
one hole nearer the end of the rod than the other
unless you mean one hole & one end of the rod is a different distance from the other hole @ the other rod end. If so, the shorter distance is on the outer end, the longer distance on the inner (pulley) end.