replace rear derailleur pulleys?
07-12-17 | 02:28 PM
#1
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From: Spanaway, WA
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Sport Disk, Genesis GS29
replace rear derailleur pulleys?
Just got my bicycle back from the LBS. They tell me that I will be looking at replacing the pulleys on my rear derailleur in the near future. The derailleur has about 4000 miles on it. I will take it to a different LBS for another opinion. What do you think?
07-12-17 | 02:55 PM
#2
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Look at how pointy the teeth on your bottom pulley are. I agree with your shop mechanic.
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07-12-17 | 03:11 PM
#3
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From: Spanaway, WA
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Sport Disk, Genesis GS29
07-12-17 | 10:17 PM
#4
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From: Vegemite Island
Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830
How did you get your derailleur pulley, so shark toothed?
07-12-17 | 10:42 PM
#5
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From: Spanaway, WA
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07-12-17 | 11:40 PM
#6
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From: Long Beach
Bikes: Fitz randonneuse, Trek Superfly/AL, Tsunami SS, Bacchetta, HPV Speed Machine, Rans Screamer
That is some crazy wear for 4000 miles! I would be looking for bad bearings or something. Poor shifting would affect the top pulley, not the bottom. I hope that is not a professionally clean chain. Nasty abrasive trail dust? Try a dry chain lube.
07-12-17 | 11:43 PM
#7
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From: Spanaway, WA
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Sport Disk, Genesis GS29
I know, I need to go to a different shop.
I will start looking for one right away. :-)
07-12-17 | 11:51 PM
#8
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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
The upper pulley looks fine. The lower pulley looks badly worn. But, it might still work even if worn smooth. Vintage derailleur pulleys were round.
Do you lube the pulleys. I used to use grease, then decided that the high viscosity on bushings was bad. I've started to use a very viscous oil (Lucas transmission oil/leak stop). Still testing.
Do you lube the pulleys. I used to use grease, then decided that the high viscosity on bushings was bad. I've started to use a very viscous oil (Lucas transmission oil/leak stop). Still testing.
07-13-17 | 08:56 AM
#9
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From: Bay Area, Calif.
Agreed. That much asymmetry between the wear on the top vs. bottom pulley suggests that the OP should check how freely those pulleys spin. Seems like there might be lots of friction in the bottom one.
07-13-17 | 11:57 PM
#11
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Also, 4000 miles doesn't seem like enough miles to wear out the pulley. Again, something going here. Let us know what you learn.
07-14-17 | 06:36 PM
#13
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From: Ottawa,ON,Canada
Bikes: Schwinn Miranda 1990, Giant TCX 2 2012
Here is what my pulley looked like when I bought the bike (used of course). The pulley was hard to turn so my guess was wear because of that. They are made of plastic after all so it doesn't take much to wear them out when there is too much resistance in turning.
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