Bicycle Mechanics - Derailleur Lubrication

I have my wife's Trek 830 torn down and everything is getting a clean-up and lube. I gave the derailleurs an ultrasonic cleaning and wonder what you all use for lubing the pivot points. In the past I've sprayed mine down with silicone and seemed to have good results. I've only lost one derailleur to pivot point wear. But I'm not familiar with all the new synthetic lubes that are available now. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Walt

I use a drop of TriFlow on each pivot and on the spring. Teflon trumps silicone - IMHO.

+1 for tri-flow

Are you talking about the main pivots that screws/hangs onto the frame and the cage? If so, the springs in those should be overhauled after an ultrasonic cleaning...

I just use my dry type chain lube> prolink. Seems to stay cleaner that way.

Any light oil is fine for the pantograph pivots, but the upper and lower bodies need something more substantial. Usually the spring is surrounded with grease which you probably either washed out or contaminated with your ultrasonic cleaning. You need to either dis-assemble and re-lube these parts or try to wick some heavier oil in, possibly diluted with a solvent as a vehicle.

If you stuck the whole derailleur in an ultrasonic cleaner, then it needs to be taken completely apart (if it wasn't already). The factory puts grease in the two main pivot areas. The pulley bushings are also greased, by I prefer a frequent application of a good spray lube rather than grease. Any good oil is sufficiennt for the other pivots .

Oil, any oil, and do it often, don't wait until you going to ultrasound the thing. Every time you wash your bike or have it up in the stand, put a drop on the der pivots and oil the pulley bearings, same with brake pivots. A little oil, often.

Yes, the springs are re-greased. The bike is an attempt at getting my wife out and riding more. She always compained that her old bike was a little too tall, so I rounded up this Trek with a 16.5" frame and am doing a complete overhaul so it'll be ready for spring. Thanks for the responses. I'll give the Tri-Flow a try.

Walt

I use "Finish Line" dry wax lubricant that seems to really get into the joints and pivots good on my brake caliper and derailleur pivots because of the light suspension fluid it is in. Really felt the difference before and after I applied the lubricant on my just finished restoration project recently.

Chombi

Ultrasonic cleaning? Overkill any? I prefer to use a dry lube, like teflon, for derailleurs as not to attract any more dirt and grime. I can see where small amounts of tri-flow would work really well.

Actually, using ultrasonic cleaners on bike parts is a phenomenal idea, I just can't afford one to fit my bigger components into. :(

Actually, using ultrasonic cleaners on bike parts is a phenomenal idea, I just can't afford one to fit my bigger components into. :(

Yeah that would make our tune-ups awesome. Instead of just cleaning the bike you also do a free overhaul on all brakes and derailleurs you stick into it.

:thumbsup: