Jockey wheels - to lube or not?

[cmxxx]

I'm talking about the basic plastic wheel running on metal bush type and not the ones with ball bearings inside.
I've googled and searched this forum and most people seem to lube them.
Up to now that is what I have been doing (strip, clean, lube bush with light oil).
I recently bought a NOS Shimano rear mech (vintage Altus) and the jockeys are completely dry but spinning very freely.
I am therefore thinking that I should be running them dry and I have been doing it wrong for years.
I think I will do an experiment and run one dry and one wet and see how it goes.

[rjb]

Running dry will hasten wear. I grease mine every 1000 miles during a chain swap. Remove one, clean , grease, reassemble and replace before doing the 2nd. This keeps the tensioner cage in line making it easier to replace the bolts.

[gbnz]

Have never oiled Rr Derailleur jockey wheels, had typical 4000 + miles a year, over 22yr's, never had an issue. Had one Campag set, all others being Shimano Soro, Tiagra, Altura/Altus. Chain oiled with synthetic lubes, presume some lube will wear off on the jockey wheels

Will have replaced jockey wheels on one occasion, purely after 10,000's of thousands of miles, jockey wheel teeth being worn out. Never had an issue with the circular metal bush, never had a wear issue

[Pebble]

Just went to sort mine out a few days ago


it always surprises me how the plastic (or are they nylon) wars out the steel
I found some less worn ones to replace them with - going to have to make some big desissions, the whole derailuer seems worn out, and I can imagine getting into serious money to replace that, or should I just go for new jockeys

[TheBomber]

After washing the bike I always spray a little GT85 into them. Mainly to drive the water out but it will also add a light lubrication. If you have disk brakes work out a routine that ensures you don’t overspray the rotors.

[Rob D]

Good question! My LBS suggested using Finishline Green. We clean ours roughly every 500 -1000 km, less on a tour, if at all. Doesnt take too long. With the bike inverted, I use a bit of string to tie the derailleur down which helps.

[cycle tramp]

...I don't... but then I spend alot of my time along muddy and dusty tracks, farmers droves and gravel paths. The reason I don't is because its more than possible grit and sand would stick to the grease and oil causing a greater wear to the jockey wheels than if I wasn't using any...

....however... if I was cycling on sealed surfaces all of the time, then I would.

[Cyclothesist]

I take the same approach as TheBomber and squish some GT85 into the bushings periodically. It does seem to keep them quiet and running smoothly without attracting lots of muck. Dry jockey wheel bushings sometimes make their presence known by a high pitched squeaking. If your bike sounds like it's being followed by a twittering budgie that's quite likely the jockeys pleading for lubricant.

[Jdsk]

I take the same approach as TheBomber and squish some GT85 into the bushings periodically. It does seem to keep them quiet and running smoothly without attracting lots of muck. Dry jockey wheel bushings sometimes make their presence known by a high pitched squeaking. If your bike sounds like it's being followed by a twittering budgie that's quite likely the jockeys pleading for lubricant.

Sheldon Brown has likened it to "being chased by a pack of angry mice".
https://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjus ... rdmaintain

Jonathan

[531colin]

This won’t inconvenience those whose hearing aids don’t compensate for the typical age related loss of hearing in the high frequency range: but for some of who ride with these people, it’s almost painful.
I have been known to surreptitiously oil jockey wheels at the coffee stop.

[mig]

my commute takes me past a secondary school where, encouragingly, there are quite a few pupils who travel by bike. as i ride past there are a huge amount of 'angry mice' though....rarely have a seen such brown chains and 'rings.

makes me wince!

[tenbikes]

Hope jockey wheels......job done

[Cyclothesist]

...
I have been known to surreptitiously oil jockey wheels at the coffee stop.

Hilarious. Colin the Phantom Oiler. That comment has made my day.

[Carlton green]

Well over a decade ago - and maybe two decades ago - the vast bulk of my cycling changed to hub gear transmission. I have memories of derailleur gears needing a lot of cleaning and maintenance time, but maybe I could have done things differently and better. As an aside whilst it takes longer to get anywhere using an SA AW they take a relatively tiny amount of time to keep clean and don’t consume jockey wheels at upwards of £5 a pair - I concluded it was a case of what you gain on the swings you loose on the roundabouts….

As it seems better to lub than not - I used to strip them down, clean them and lightly grease with ‘soft grease’ - what do people recommend for best results? As an alternative to grease I’d wondered about some form of wax (less attractive to sand, grit and muck).

I wonder if folk have favoured replacements for durability and / or cost? Years back I tried the type with sealed ball bearings, but water or grit got into them so I went back to the traditional plain bearing type.

[Biospace]

The vast bulk of my cycling changed to hub gear transmission well over a decade ago and maybe two decades ago. As an aside it takes longer to get anywhere using an SA AW but they take a relatively tiny amount of time to keep clean and don’t consume jockey wheels at upwards of £5 a pair.

As it seems better to lub than not - I used to strip them down, clean them and lightly grease with ‘soft grease’ - what do people recommend for best results? As an alternative I’d wondered about some form of wax (less attractive to sand, grit and muck).

I wonder if folk have favoured replacements for durability and / or cost? Years back I tried the type with sealed ball bearings, but water or grit got into them so I went back to the traditional plain bearing type.

I once used candle wax which appeared effective but grit still made its way in, nowadays I pack with a light grease.

Occasionally I ride a (decent quality) mountain bike with a friend on his 4 speed Raleigh Tourist, only on the steeper hills is he much slower. There are some gentler climbs when his lack of changing gear gives the advantage.