Unlucky week riding in Spain broke a nearly new XT on day 1 (into spokes, cage, jockeys and back part of main linkage snapped). Day 2 snapped top link on brand new replacement (first one I’m pretty sure I know where I knocked it, second can only have been a flicked up rock :(. )
So bought a Deore. It working fine but squeaking like a mouse on crack in the lowest 3 gears. Can’t work out why - happens whether clutch is on or off.
Any ideas?
Squeaking when you are pedalling or when changing gears? My SLX cassette had a wafer thin plastic shim on the back of the cassette where it meets the hub which apparently was to stop squeaking - mine never squeaked though and I never rode it without the shim so can’t be more helpful than that I’m afraid - check yours has one maybe? I think it’s supposed to be glued in place but mine dropped off every time I took the cassette off and I had to be careful not to lose it.
It's the clutch, take the cover off, put some grease on the little wheel things inside and the spring etc, cycle it a few times and refit the cover. You're meant to do it periodically anyway.
Don't grease the roller bearings inside the clutch roller itself though otherwise it won't work....
That seems most likely but really shouldn’t be an issue on a brand new mech that’s been ridden in dry conditions should it?
Happens whether clutch is on or off so actually I don’t think it is the clutch (have had them squeak in the past though)
It's the jockey, can't remember which one. I had one in a virtually brand new SLX mech which squeaked like a little mouse in the two biggest sprockets all the way around the Jennride last year. Took it apart and it was already in a state. Bizarre.
They’re just bushings aren’t they?
Yes - likely the tension one at extreme angles expressing it's distress. A bit of lube should shut it up.
Mech hanger still OK? Nothing else bent/broken?
A drop of lube will often identify a squeaky jockey wheel.
That seems most likely but really shouldn’t be an issue on a brand new mech that’s been ridden in dry conditions should it?
Sometimes they come dry though, and then fail shortly after getting wet.
looks like that's the issue. only lube I had on the trip was Smoove but running some of that into the jockey's from the outside mostly stopped it. Will take them off the bike now I'm home (and maybe replace with some bearing based ones from a wrecked XT).
Glad you got it sorted. Nothing makes your heart sink faster than hearing a new squeak just as you're starting a big ride...
I had 8 days of that squeaking on every climb.... (and a lot of steep climbing...) but I was already 2 mechs down for the trip so was not going to be disassembling it.
