Grease

[Jdratcliffe]

Umm i been told that i should really clean out and re grease my rear derailer but i am unsure as to how to do this and also what grease/greases to stock for the job? on a side note if i was brave enough to attempt this and a wheel bearing re grease is it the same of diffrent needed...? FYI its shinmano 105 kit

 

[numbnuts]

I clean mine with white spirit and a old brush and then spray with WD40, I have never put grease on it picks up too much dirt from the road.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

I clean mine with white spirit and a old brush and then spray with WD40, I have never put grease on it picks up too much dirt from the road.

ok and so when you re grease your wheel bearings do you use anything in particular?

 

[Canrider]

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/rear-derailleur-overhaul
Probably a good place to start. The grease comes in around step 12-14, where they lube (ie, chain oil) the pulleys and grease (ie, bearing grease) the springs.
Grease for wheel bearings, I'd use any waterproof white grease, Finish Line, Park and Pedros get namechecked a lot but apparently marine grease is similar but cheaper (probably economies of scale there).

 

[Mile195]

I clean my derailleur with "Muc-Off" Chain degreaser and kitchen towels. You can use a standard washing-up brush to get the grit out of the nooks-and-crannies. I re-lube with some fairly light own-brand oil from Decathlon, but as stated above - don't use grease.

Grease you should use however for wheel bearings. I use lithium grease - it doesn't absorb water (which standard Axle Grease does, over time).

It's not a mammouth task - takes just a few minutes once you're practised at it. Even re-greasing the wheel bearings doesn't take long once you know what you're doing. Make sure you've got the right tools before you start though (including a torque wrench, to put the cassette back on (and that's probably due for replacement as well if you feel your wheel bearings need re-greasing). I run 105 as well, and from memory, I think it's 28nm that you torque the lock-ring to.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I use regular Vaseline for all bike bearings and have done so without issue for over 30 years. Works a treat. It's a bike, not an F1 car.

You don't need a torque wrench either for the cassette lock ring a 6" spanner opr pipe grips will work. You need the Shimano tool and a chain-whip.

 

[Andrew_P]

Oh I have never done anything to my RD, except change the jockey wheels, looking at that tech document on stripping it down etc

I think I would rather lash out the £39 on a new one! Knowing my DIY skills it would be an all day job and I would be left with bits on the table and rushing off trying to find a shop with one in stock and paying RRP for it!