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Do you grease jockey tires?
Do you grease jockey tires?

Maintaining your mechs clean will result in better shifting. Here's how.

Your derailleurs have a hard job because their job it to drag a greasy bike chain up the cassette and down the chainrings. Even worse, derailleurs live directly in the spray line, so it's not surprising that they tend to get gunked-up.

It is a good habit to give them a little lubrication every so often. It will extend the service life of your machines and ensure that they never stop moving. Here's how...

Insider tip Excessive amounts of oil can actually attract dirt and make them wear out faster.

1. Apply degreaser

You can start spraying the derailleur with degreaser, unless you are able to completely disassemble it. However, don't soak the derailleur too long as it could lead to grease leaking from the pivots.

The procedure is almost identical for the rear and front mechs.

2. Be clean inside the cages

Take a brush and clean out the dirt clogging the cages at the front and rear derailleurs. If you are feeling particularly meticulous, you might even remove the chains first. It is however possible to complete a decent job with them still in place.

3. Take out all the dirt

If it's been a while since your last inspection of the rear derailleur, you may find that the jockey wheels have become clogged with grime. If the grime is very bad, you can scrape it with a flat-head drill and wipe off any residue using an old cloth.

4. Take a look at the jockey wheels

Jockey wheels are just like any other part of your drivetrain. They will wear slowly with time. They change from having flat-topped, blunt profiles to being spike-like. Once they become a problem, they will need replacement.

5. Oil the jockey's wheels

You can either replace them or leave the ones you have in place. Your jockey wheel would appreciate a quick spritz of lube.

Make sure you use the correct lube for the conditions that you will encounter.

6. Lubricate all pivots

Regular lubrication can help to protect the pivots at the rear derailleur (four) and the two front ones (two). They can become sticky and cause poor shifting. This is especially evident when moving down or into the small cassette. Give each one a generous amount of grease and move the mech around to make it sink in.

Your chainrings and sprockets don't need any oiling, as they get enough lubrication from your chain as it passes through them. Excessive amounts of oil can actually attract dirt and make them wear out faster.

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