Derailler Pulley Tightness?
03-16-11, 08:02 PM
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Derailler Pulley Tightness?
While cleaning my bike, I took of the jockey wheels on my rear derailleur and I was wondering, how much are they supposed to be tightened? If it matters it's 6 speed suntour indexed.
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03-16-11, 08:21 PM
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I can't give you a torque spec, but you tighten it tight, consistent with the torque for 5mm screws. Something close to the torque that you'd use on a cab;e pinch bolt of the same size.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-16-11, 08:49 PM
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Park Tool recommends 30 in-lbs in addition to a threadlocker. The pulley bolts I've removed from Shimano derailleurs do have what appears to be a threadlocker on them as well.
03-16-11, 09:00 PM
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Is there any way to tell if it's too light or too loose without a torque wrench?
03-16-11, 10:11 PM
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My god, how in the world did we ever work on bikes during all those years before Loctite and torque wrenches came into vogue?
It's not rocket science, it's a 5mm screw. I can't describe how tight over the internet, but if you've turned a few screws in your life without breaking them off you should have a sense of how tight is tight. Since you loosened the screws yourself maybe you can remember how tight they felt.
If you're nervous about breaking the screw, use a short wrench, maybe 4-5 inches or so, and tighten gently but firmly. You'll feel the screw bottom out, then can turn it about another 1/4 turn. There's a feeling of the torque ramping up as screws tighten comparable to how a faucet feels as you close it.
If you're not sure, ride the bike, and check it in an hour, then another 2 hours, then another day, then next week, then forget about it.
BTW- if you've installed a water bottle cage, and it hasn't fallen off, you already have a sense of how tight is tight.
It's not rocket science, it's a 5mm screw. I can't describe how tight over the internet, but if you've turned a few screws in your life without breaking them off you should have a sense of how tight is tight. Since you loosened the screws yourself maybe you can remember how tight they felt.
If you're nervous about breaking the screw, use a short wrench, maybe 4-5 inches or so, and tighten gently but firmly. You'll feel the screw bottom out, then can turn it about another 1/4 turn. There's a feeling of the torque ramping up as screws tighten comparable to how a faucet feels as you close it.
If you're not sure, ride the bike, and check it in an hour, then another 2 hours, then another day, then next week, then forget about it.
BTW- if you've installed a water bottle cage, and it hasn't fallen off, you already have a sense of how tight is tight.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 03-16-11 at 10:14 PM.
03-17-11, 12:42 AM
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There's really no such thing as too tight for most pulleys, well until you snap the bolt or strip some threads, that is.
03-17-11, 06:36 AM
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Apparently we all crashed a lot because our bikes were breaking each day due to lack of torque wrenches, Loctite, and carbon assembly compound. I do use all of those, but only when truly *needed*.
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