Shimano ceramic pulley lube
03-16-23, 02:22 PM
#1
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Shimano ceramic pulley lube
Got me a set of Shimano ultegra pulley wheels. The guide pulley has an all ceramic bushing for bearing and it came dry in the package. Is it supposed to run dry or am I supposed to lube it? (There was no instructions)
I installed it with a dab of Shimano premium grease as per usual. However I'm second guessing myself.
??
I installed it with a dab of Shimano premium grease as per usual. However I'm second guessing myself.
??
03-16-23, 04:02 PM
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Ball bearing or sleeve? Ceramic balls can be run without lube but in this application it makes little to no difference,
probably measured in microwatts. If shipped without lube, that is the way I would run it. FWIW ceramic bearings
were originally designed for applications running at thousands to 10s of thousands of RPM and temperatures
upwards of 800 degrees C. In bicycle applications they are designed to extract the maximum $$ from the end user.
probably measured in microwatts. If shipped without lube, that is the way I would run it. FWIW ceramic bearings
were originally designed for applications running at thousands to 10s of thousands of RPM and temperatures
upwards of 800 degrees C. In bicycle applications they are designed to extract the maximum $$ from the end user.
Last edited by sch; 03-16-23 at 04:07 PM.
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03-16-23, 08:46 PM
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The reason what Shimano went to their ceramic guide pulley bushing was because of the advent of mountain biking and the increased abrasive action of the mud and dirt trail riding brought. Nothing about RPMs or even friction that I recall. All about keeping that upper pulley from flopping about with bushing wear. Andy
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AndrewRStewart
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03-16-23, 09:06 PM
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Ceramic is basically non-porous, unlike steel, as a result it is pretty much frictionless. Ceramic also dissipates heat very quickly so little for lube to do. People make a light lube for it if running dry is bothersome to you which I doubt would hurt in any way.
03-16-23, 09:49 PM
#5
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The reason what Shimano went to their ceramic guide pulley bushing was because of the advent of mountain biking and the increased abrasive action of the mud and dirt trail riding brought. Nothing about RPMs or even friction that I recall. All about keeping that upper pulley from flopping about with bushing wear. Andy
03-16-23, 09:55 PM
#6
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Sure. I just leave the grease in there. Running dry just seem "wrong" but I have to question if lube is required, when out of box they are completely dry.
