Lubricating jockey wheels
05-14-17, 10:08 AM
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Lubricating jockey wheels
What do you recommend to lubricate bushing-style jockey wheels on a Shimano Altus rear derailleur?
05-14-17, 10:49 AM
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Any good quality light oil. Tri-Flow works well. Wipe off the exterior dirt before oiling so you don't just wick it into the bushings.
05-14-17, 10:56 AM
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Oiling your chain usually puts some on the bushing, inside the dust shield, of the pulley.
but you can take them out and clean and oil them directly, if you wish.
but you can take them out and clean and oil them directly, if you wish.
05-14-17, 11:10 AM
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As Hillrider said, just about anything since there's very little load involved. You cam apply a drop ar the edge of the dust cap, or remove, clean and reoil each pulley.
Either way, plan on wiping off excess so the pulleys don't adhere dirt.
Either way, plan on wiping off excess so the pulleys don't adhere dirt.
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05-14-17, 08:12 PM
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Why not?, though I oil bushings with oil rather than grease.
In any case, this is a low demand application, and sun tan oil would be fine.
In any case, this is a low demand application, and sun tan oil would be fine.
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05-14-17, 08:51 PM
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John
05-14-17, 08:59 PM
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OTOH - the plastics used on bike parts are pretty UV stable already. You might see some fading, but degradation for UV shouldn't be an issue.
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05-14-17, 09:10 PM
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John
05-14-17, 09:18 PM
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Lots of things will degrade plastics, UV and ozone are two of them But as I said, the plastics used on bike parts are selected to survive in the environment they are supposed to work in, ie. the outdoors.
Over the years, I've seen many plastics fade in color or get dull. The change may be subtle, but is apparent when compared to new, or if there's something that casts a permanent shadow. For example, if you take a part a pulley, you'll often fins that the section hidden behind the dust cap is darker or brighter than the exposed part.
But there's a big difference between cosmetic changes and degrading to where it affects function. I don't know of Any bike parts where plastics degrade materially, except for things like cable housing covers, and possibly some other plastic trim parts. Even that process takes longer than the normal service life so only people who don't ride enough to wear stuff out have to worry about UV or ozone related aging of things like plastics and the rubber of tires and brake shoes.
Over the years, I've seen many plastics fade in color or get dull. The change may be subtle, but is apparent when compared to new, or if there's something that casts a permanent shadow. For example, if you take a part a pulley, you'll often fins that the section hidden behind the dust cap is darker or brighter than the exposed part.
But there's a big difference between cosmetic changes and degrading to where it affects function. I don't know of Any bike parts where plastics degrade materially, except for things like cable housing covers, and possibly some other plastic trim parts. Even that process takes longer than the normal service life so only people who don't ride enough to wear stuff out have to worry about UV or ozone related aging of things like plastics and the rubber of tires and brake shoes.
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05-14-17, 09:22 PM
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However, if you're worried about UV when storing bikes hung from the rafters in your garage, it's possible that you're misdirecting your worries.
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05-14-17, 09:36 PM
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05-14-17, 09:43 PM
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..... I don't know of Any bike parts where plastics degrade materially, except for things like cable housing covers, and possibly some other plastic trim parts. Even that process takes longer than the normal service life so only people who don't ride enough to wear stuff out have to worry about UV or ozone related aging of things like plastics and the rubber of tires and brake shoes.
05-15-17, 12:30 AM
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been using that grease, or phil's grease, on mine for years... i'm still running the same jockey wheels i put on my trek in 1983. Suntour Cyclone Der.... i clean it every few hundred miles.
one tiny dab per bushing, and a dab in each groove...
one tiny dab per bushing, and a dab in each groove...
05-15-17, 01:39 AM
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I used to use bearing grease on my jockey wheels, but recently decided it is to viscous, causing added friction, as well as wear on the jockey wheels, especially during the winter. So, I've changed to using Lucas Transmission Oil/Additive. It is one of the most viscous oils one can buy, but with lower friction than the grease.
05-15-17, 03:33 AM
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Which groove are you referring to?
05-15-17, 04:30 AM
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in the sides of the rollers, under the dust cap. Just enough grease to lightly coat the roller groove. Waterproof grease increases the surface tension effect of the water, slowing intrusion into the bushing area...
Last edited by maddog34; 05-15-17 at 04:36 AM.
05-15-17, 09:37 AM
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One more vote for grease. Even though oil takes a few years to dribble out, why make more work for yourself a few years down the road? Grease stays put better than oil.
