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Self-cleaning jockey wheels!

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  • October 8, 2015 at 9:33 pm #24899
    userfriendly

    Someone with materials science fu, please …. invent them.

    Failing that, I’m looking to hire one or two tiny-fingered elves.

    X(

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Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • October 13, 2015 at 6:55 am #861533
    0
    wellcoordinated

    bikeboy76

    bikeboy76 wrote:
    wellcoordinated wrote:
    Clean the drive train after every ride.

    Pffft… lifes too short or you don’t ride enough or you have a personal mechanic or don’t work.

    or you’re just a lazy git :))

    October 10, 2015 at 4:31 pm #861531
    0
    userfriendly

    Thanks, I shall try that on
    Thanks, I shall try that on my dry weather bike. Would be nice not to have that black gunk all over the shiny silver alloy Athena parts.

    October 10, 2015 at 3:59 pm #861529
    0
    sergius

    I’m using this
    I’m using this stuff:

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/squirt-chain-lube-120ml/?sku=5360593459

    r.e. the comment about a new chain, unless you degreased it first that was probably your problem.

    When I switched to a wax based lube, I degreased my chain (had about 1000 miles on it) a couple of times (which with hindsight was possibly still not enough, it took 3-4 applications of wax before the oil was all gone). I then applied the wax to the inside of the chain fairly liberally, before giving it a good spin to get rid of the excess + a wipe down; basically you just want the inner rollers coated in wax.

    I always do this after a ride so it has a chance to penetrate and dry out before riding it again.

    After a ride I just clean the chain with a old rag – no degreaser or anything else required, before re-applying the wax lube.

    I’ve not done a huge amount of wet miles on this (best bike + weekend warrior). I’ll admit I’ve no plans to switch to wax for my winter bike, wet lube all the way there.

    October 10, 2015 at 2:45 pm #861527
    0
    userfriendly

    I’ve tried wax once, applied
    I’ve tried wax once, applied to a brand new chain, and it made the entire drive train feel rather noisy and rumble-y. Then again, there may be nuances to using wax instead of normal lube that were lost on me, I’ll happily admit I may have been doing it wrong.

    Are there specific products you can recommend? Things, apart from wiping off the excess after a ride, that someone can easily get wrong when using wax?

    Totally up for trying wax based lubes again – I mean, if wax is good enough for my legs it may be good for my chains too …

    … in the meantime I’ll be at the bottom of my garden with the butterfly net trying to catch me some of them elves. They’re quickly moving little buggers!

    October 10, 2015 at 1:23 pm #861525
    0
    sergius

    I’ve switched to wax based
    I’ve switched to wax based lubricants from oil, they are a teeny bit more effort to use (you need to wipe of excess wax after a ride) but you retain a nice shiny chain and there’s no oil to get everywhere.

    I spend 10 minutes after a ride wiping off the excess and re-applying the wax, once you get practised it’s not especially onerous.

    If you are a weekend warrior I’d recommend trying wax. For commuting/everyday usage I’d think it’s probably a little to much effort.

    October 9, 2015 at 9:56 pm #861523
    0
    fukawitribe

    brooksby wrote:mike the bike

    brooksby wrote:
    mike the bike wrote:
    Don’t use oily stuff on your chain and the problem goes away.

    Erm – you mean, like, chain lube? What do you use?

    http://logok.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/elf-logo.png

    October 9, 2015 at 9:45 pm #861521
    0
    Leviathan

    wellcoordinated wrote:Clean

    wellcoordinated wrote:
    Clean the drive train after every ride.

    Pffft… lifes too short or you don’t ride enough or you have a personal mechanic or don’t work.

    October 9, 2015 at 9:30 pm #861519
    0
    brooksby

    mike the bike wrote:Don’t use

    mike the bike wrote:
    Don’t use oily stuff on your chain and the problem goes away.

    Erm – you mean, like, chain lube? What do you use?

    October 9, 2015 at 6:31 pm #861517
    0
    userfriendly

    Do I dip the elves in oil
    Do I dip the elves in oil instead?

    October 9, 2015 at 5:45 pm #861515
    0
    mike the bike

    Don’t use oily stuff on your
    Don’t use oily stuff on your chain and the problem goes away.

    October 9, 2015 at 2:53 pm #861513
    0
    userfriendly

    But I want elves
    But I want elves šŸ™

    October 9, 2015 at 2:43 pm #861511
    0
    wellcoordinated

    Clean the drive train after
    Clean the drive train after every ride. Spray WD40 generously over the jockey wheels, then with a cloth between your thumb and fore finger gentle grip the exposed part of the jockey wheel while turning the crank. Comes clean in seconds. If you need a toothbrush you are not looking after the drive chain enough. Also doe not need any elves.

    October 9, 2015 at 6:18 am #861509
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    medic_ollie

    They’re pretty easy to take
    They’re pretty easy to take off so you can give them a real good scrub.

    October 9, 2015 at 3:21 am #861507
    0
    kev-s

    old tooth brush
    old tooth brush šŸ˜‰ šŸ˜‰

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