Derailleur lubrication

[CaptainSlow]

I've noticed that the front mech (105) has always been a bit hard to move but today it wouldn't even spring back to the small cog when released. I've given in a good soaking in wd40 which has freed it and now coated in a silicon oil spray. Seems a bit much for a relatively new bike with only a few hundred km on.

How often do you lube up your derailleurs and what process/lubes do you use?

[Rolls]

The actual mechs just get sprayed with gt85 here... Usually every couple of rides.. (Use proper lube on the chain obviously)

[Rouleur]

CaptainSlow said:

...and now coated in a silicon oil spray.

I think this may be the problem! I just put a very small spray of GT85 on the pivots, the smallest amount you can dribble out of the little pipe.

[Jimbo.]

CaptainSlow said:

I've noticed that the front mech (105) has always been a bit hard to move but today it wouldn't even spring back to the small cog when released. I've given in a good soaking in wd40 which has freed it and now coated in a silicon oil spray. Seems a bit much for a relatively new bike with only a few hundred km on.

How often do you lube up your derailleurs and what process/lubes do you use?

The cable is letting it release, I presume? Always the first port of call for any dodgy shifting.
re. the mech. I give it a wipe if it's real dirty (occasionally cleaning it properly with a brush, water, cleaner etc) and the odd dribble of light chain lube to any pivot, but that's it. It's the cables I focus upon

[CaptainSlow]

Yeah all solved now. Cable was letting it release but it just didn't want to spring back, full of gunk I guess.

I'm surprised it gunked up so quickly but the wd40 has cleared it out. Have done the same to my 2300 equipped bike too which has made that smoother, even though the 2300 FD is much smoother than my 105!

[jackh707]

I have been slated for this before but I use WD40 for everything with success.

I clean my bike with it, I lube my bike with it, just spray it everywhere, wipe everything down, works for me. Good for cleaning chains. I used it as the only form of lube on a motorbike chain for over 25,000 miles in all weathers and it didn't fail, I replaced it out of preventative maintenance.

I bow to our WD40 overlords and fear the day when it will no longer be propelled out of a can.

[magpie215]

Jimbo. said:

It's the cables I focus upon

100% this I was having major set up issues on my front derailleur. I cleaned and lubricated it still the same then decided to strip the inner cable out and sure enough it had started fraying internally....new inner sorted it.