pulley noize
 

Hi all. I just installed a new chain, cassette and pulleys the other day. Chain and cassette are SRAM 8-speed, and the pulleys are installed on an older Ultegra 8 speed derailleur. The pulleys make kind of a grinding noise when I'm pedaling 'with power' versus cruising along on the flats. The pulleys are Shimano, and I wonder if they will make a little bit of noise until they 'mate' properly with the chain. The adjustments and shifting are fine and I believe the vertical nature of the derailleur hanger looks proper (ie, no bending) Any help out there? I would appreciate it. :)

I guess that the noise isn't originally from the pulleys, since its' worse with power. By the time the chain gets back to the pulleys, there's no increased pull left over from 'with power' versus just cruising. All the increased tension on the chain happens between the cog and the chainring, above the chainstay.

Brian, thanks for the response. I did look back over my shoulder to verify that's where the crunchy noise is coming from. It's not, for example, coming from the cassette. It looks like the chain may be popping around on the pulleys. I put some fresh lube on there today, and we'll see what happens when I ride this evening. Thanks again. :)