Bicycle Mechanics - oil or grease for sqeaky jockey wheels?

Oh, I meant "squeaky", with a 'u'.
Damn uneditable titles :p


I gave my rear derailleur a thorough clean, and now, a few weeks later, the wheels are squeaky

:thumb:

Doesn't matter a great deal, if I were to take it apart I'd use a light grease, if applying externally I'd use my chain lube.

Thanks

I betcha the jockey wheels aren't really squeaking but rather the chain. You hear the sound there, because the chain bends the most there.

But it doesn't hurt to oil the jockey wheels while you're at it.

I betcha the jockey wheels aren't really squeaking but rather the chain. You hear the sound there, because the chain bends the most there.
.Very good point, and think you might be right. :thumb: I was thinking something like that a few hours ago after I oiled the wheels but still heard some squeaking.

I gave the wheels a good oiling with the derailleur sitting flat on a bench (I was swapping all the parts from one frame to another), then put it on the bike, but it still squeaked -- then I noticed the chain was dry :thumb:

I've definitely had squeaky jockey wheels before; treatment depends on how motivated I am. Motivated = disassemble and grease, as I have some vague feeling that it would last longer. Unmotivated = squirt of oil.

I usually disassemble and grease them during my routine maintenance.

I do the oil thing. Grease can build up too much gunk.

Oil or any decent spray lube is the way to go. I've used a RD for 5 years and never had the jockey wheel apart. I give mine a squirt of lube every couple of weeks.

it will take you 10 seconds to remove each wheel. 2-3 minutes to open them up, remove the grease, and put new grease back in. less than 10 minutes of your time to eliminate one variable. why not?

I would try some type of heavy oil. Greased my campagnolo 8 speed jockey wheels, and it worked its way out and gunked up the whole chain.

I appreciate the replies

grease

Either way you decide between oil and grease, I don't think it matters much.

Depends on the jockey wheels.....
if they are sealed bearing, clean and light oil them.
if they are bushing, grease them, you don't need to use a lot.

Depends on the jockey wheels.....
if they are sealed bearing, clean and light oil them.
if they are bushing, grease them, you don't need to use a lot.
10 speed Dura Ace -- a few years old

That should have both....a Centeron pulley for jockey and a sealed bearing pulley as tension pulley.
A Centeron is just a bushing with a couple mm of lateral play.

The sealed bearing pulley should have no play. You should see a small cartridge bearing. In most cases, it's maintenance free. If the RD has been submerged in water and mud, I'd opt to overhaul it and attempt to inject synthetic motor oil pass the rubber lip seals.