  Working in the framework of a nonrelativistic quark model we evaluate the
widths for the strong one-pion decays $\Sigma_c\to\Lambda_c \pi$,
$\Sigma_c^*\to\Lambda_c \pi$ and $\Xi_c^{*}\to\Xi_c \pi$. We take advantage of
the constraints imposed by heavy quark symmetry to solve the three-body problem
by means of a simple variational ansatz. We use partial conservation of the
axial current hypothesis to get the strong vertices from weak axial current
matrix elements. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data.
