Good jockey wheels

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JackStraw

Active Member
Hi All,
I hope you are well.
I have cleaned the jokey wheels a bit but as you can see these are plastic and have a lot of scratches on them.
I think the plastic surface and those scratches attract the dirt more than anything else.
Screenshot_2026-07-23_23-23-21.jpg


Screenshot_2026-07-23_23-22-59.jpg

The dirt likes to build up where the groove is and this continuously contaminates the chain.Would you recommend a replacement?
Am I correct in thinking that metal ones do not attract that much dirt nor get scratched like that?
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
*jockey*

I changed to metal *jockey* wheels. They did look nice, for a very short time, but I soon changed back. They soon got covered the usual oily crud but the main problem I had with them was that they were very rattly on the chain. (Others may have different opinion)
The scratches and build of oil which you are talking about is insignificant to any lack of performance if you keep them clean. Which takes a couple of minutes.
 
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sevenfourate

Devotee of OCD
the main problem I had with them was that they were very rattly on the chain.

I'm running Aluminium / 'supposed' Ceramic bearing versions - with no issues that i know of so far (1000 miles perhaps).

What do you mean by 'rattly' ? The noise, there's wear and movement laterally ? The wheels / teeth themselves have worn - so the chain and jockey wheel dont integrate together properly or.......?
 
Any part of the drivetrain will attract dust and dirt, dust in particular at the moment because of it being so dry. I think if you keep them clean and a drop of lubrication they should be OK. The teeth are not shark finned. If they are rattly then it is probably just movement in the bearing. If in doubt, for the sake of a few pounds, change them.
 

wafter

I like steel bikes and I cannot lie..
Location
Oxford
The damage is because of contamination, the contamination is due to crap sticking to the oil. The remedy is to clean and re-oil your drivetrain regularly or look at waxing as an alternative.

You can potentially upgrade those bushed wheels to higher-end ones with ball bearings (as per this post) although you'd want to check the dims and tooth count are compatible..
 
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richardfm

Guru
Location
Cardiff
The damage is because of contamination, the contamination is due to crap sticking to the oil. The remedy is to clean and re-oil your drivetrain regularly or look at waxing as an alternative.

You can potentially upgrade those bushed wheels to higher-end ones with roller bearings (as per this post) although you'd want to check the dims and tooth count are compatible..

Link doesn't work
 

Ming the Merciless

There is no mercy
Photo Winner
Location
Inside my skull
mitive-square_wheel-wheels_of_justice-CX930710_low.jpg
 

freiston

Veteran
Location
Coventry
I clicked on this thread thinking "wtf?" in a very puzzled way but as soon as I had clicked, realised that it was probably jockey wheels and not wheels for a clown car.
As long as they turn pretty easily and have the right amount of play for gear changing, then, in my books, they're fit for purpose. I've got a c.30 year old bike with the original plastic ones and it's not an issue. Just scrape the muck off whenever and always when you clean the chain. Don't go treading the crud that falls into the carpet though. Check your soles before going into the house (or elsewhere in the house if, like me, your kitchen is your workshop).
 
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