Call me stupid

[baldycyclist]

Folks
Just stripped down my rear derailleur of my MTB to ready it for winter use (still using roadie as weather has been rather dry and no salt on the roads yet)

Now - got some nice copper lube stuff for £18 from start fitness in Newcastle I think it is for threads rather than lube - will last me at least 2000 years I reckon. Will use it for the bits you don't take off very often like chain rings. Can I use it on my jockey wheels? O

But - can I use it for the bits that attach to the frame?

Also - what do I grease jockey wheels with? A simple grease?

Stupid questions so feel free to berate me with annoying messages.

BTW

Happy festive stuff to you all!
Hope you are enjoying all the lovely lights that people put up along your way to work at this time of year.....along some roads I possibly do not need lights!!

B
x

 

[Dayvo]

I normally just 'ungunk' my jockey wheels whenever they need doing and give them a good clean.

I've never lubricated them, but others might.

 

[Nebulous]

I take mine off every couple of months, give them and the bushes a good clean, and apply a little vaseline. I then just give them a drop of oil occasionally. I do clean the gunk off them regularly as well.

 

[Tim Hall]

[QUOTE 1641519, member: 3143"]The bearings in Jockey Wheels are usually sealed.[/quote]

Depends on the quality of the jockey wheel I think. Nicer ones can have sealed bearings. All the ones I have (cheapskate, moi?), upto Tiagra grade, are plain metal bushings. When the mood takes me (not very often) I'll strip the whole lot down for a bath in whitespirit, then reassemble with a dab of whatever general purpose grease I have. The dab goes on both the bolt that goes through the bushing and on the outside of the bushing. More important is not to put the jockey wheels back in the wrong place. The upper one tends to have more float, to help with shifting.

 

[Blue]

You're stupid.

 

[baldycyclist]

Thanks for the advice folks
It seems that a little care with cleaning it and a little grease might just keep things running fine
If I bought new ones do I need particular ones for the derailleur? I have campag veloce all over the bike if that helps

 

[youngoldbloke]

£18 for copper lube? That must be a bucket full? Is that the same as copper grease - I bought a small tube that will probably last 10 years!

 

[vernon]

Copper lube is, as the original poster suggested, for threads and is used as an anti-seize agent. It can also be used on the back of disc brake pads to eliminate brake squealing when the brakes are applied - it worked on motorbikes - it ought to work on bikes.

The original poster is likely to be retired well before his supply runs out. I have yet to use up a tube that I bought in 1978 for use on motorcycle disc brake mounting bolts.

 

[Zoiders]

£18!

I hope for your sake they used it as a lube when they bent you over the counter.

Most Jockey wheels do not have a bearing in they have a bushing, one is metal on metal the other is plastic on metal, the second one is self lubricating as it's made from Delrin plastic, the metal on metal only needs a smear of grease or oil as well, either will do.

 

[baldycyclist]

they did and it was smooth and very coppery!
Thanks for the info Zoiders

 

[swee'pea99]

Never ceases to amaze me, the fettling some folks get up to. I have never done anything at all to my derraileurs, beyond the occasional dribble of 3-in-1 into obvious places, when the whim takes me, and I have never had the slightest problem with them. These are 20+ year old units, mind you, and well-used ones at that. Why anyone would want to strip them down and reassemble them is a mystery to me.

 

[baldycyclist]

I felt like a little fettle, that is all swee'pea99
Basically I started by cleaning the chain on my MTB as it had not had it since new (2 years ago). Then (as I have started to use the mickle method of keeping my roadie chain running nicely) I thought that I needed to clean all the running gear.
Have now removed my cassette and given it a good clean....stopped at removing the spindle - or should I have a go?
Not sure I want to tinker with the hydraulic brakes but am thinking about replacing the gear cables - need some wire cutters though and they are expensive.
Front derailleur - hard to clean properly in the narrow spaces and not sure I want to take it apart - any advice folks?

 

[Enigma2008]

I use a small paintbrush with some white spirits to clean the front and rear mechs, then dry em' off and lube with a drop of oil on the pivoting bits.

 

[baldycyclist]

might give that a go - cheers enigma