Has anyone changed the bearings in the 2010 SRAM X7/X9 jockey wheels instead of replacing the actual wheels? I have a 2010 X7 and X9, the X7 is only a few muddy rides old and already the upper jockey wheel has seized.
The bearing has 626RS printed on it, but on the bearing sites a 626RS (or 626-2RS) is listed as a 6mm x 19mm x 6mm. Measuring the actual bearing the OD seems to be 18mm, I realise they are a press fit but a whole mm seems like a lot. I only have plastic vernier calipers but the accuracy isn't that bad.
The teeth on the jockey wheels aren't worn at all, I managed to free up the bearing but it's still corroded inside so probably won't last long. These bearings are around £2 each and the jockey wheels are about £23 a pair...it's going to get expensive running these in wet conditions if I have to replace the jockeys every few months (or service them VERY regularly).
Has anyone tried this?
Never actually done it, though noted the bearing in the lower one when I fitted replacement jockey wheels the other day (older type with the weird 2 hole setup, so no bearing in the top one).
I've not done it as the only time mine seized (the lower one that is) it was at the start of the first ride of a holiday in scotland, so we took it off, the bearing fell out in pieces we refitted in minus any bearing and I ran it like that for the next 6 months until the teeth wore out.
But anyways, yeah just get another bearing, it won't be hard to push the old ones out, use a socket the same size to push it out, and a larger socket for it to push inside of on the other side. Use a vice or g-clamp to push it through - or a hammer if you have none of the others - GENTLY tap it out!
why not flip the seals out and flush em out/regrease, thats what I do when my XOs get rough, alternatively Petra cycles did a set of jockey wheels for £17 next day delivered....well impressed with em!
I've removed the bearing seals and cleaned thoroughly...the bearings spin freely now but they're already corroding inside so even with a re-grease they probably won't last long...when I first opened them the supposedly 'sealed' bearings were jam packed with grit.
Even at £17 the cost of the jockey wheels seems disproportionate compared to the cost of the mech, I paid about £35 for the new X7 mech...are XT mechs/jockey wheels any better?
I don't abuse my bike but I use it for commuting 4-5 days a week and my path to work takes me across some bridle ways which get muddy when wet. I always clean everything but don't have time to strip and re-grease the jockey wheel bearings after every muddy ride.
In the past year I've had a 2009 X9 mech fail/replaced under warranty (the action became stiff and it wouldn't shift smoothly, a common problem as I learned from other forums). This was regularly cleaned and re-greased. I bought this X7 to use while waiting for the warranty replacement and this is now on the wife's bike so only has occasional use.
Is it just me or are SRAM mechs rubbish? Since getting back into mountain biking I've only had SRAM kit, are shimano mechs any better?
clee hill cycles, did me a v good deal on X9 jockey wheels, try them.
I have changed the bearing (often!). I get them for about £1 each on Ebay (think I bought a box of 10 from a skateboard shop). Mine tends to go every couple of months, in winter especially. The old one just pushes out and the new one in. I have had problems with it 'going' while out in the Alps so now when on multi day rides I normally carry a spare new bearing as they weigh very little.
Chris
think i have some spAres you can have. email me
thanks for the replies...ChrisE, are you using the 626 2RS bearings as replacements?
thanks for the offer racing_ralph, if they're surplus to your requirements I might buy them off you otherwise I'm happy to source them elsewhere. I just wasn't sure about the OD measurements (see OP).
Is it just me or are SRAM mechs rubbish? Since getting back into mountain biking I've only had SRAM kit, are shimano mechs any better?
I prefer the sram actuation, as they don't go out of sync as easily as shimano ones IME (9 speed that is, IIRC 10 speed Shimano have changed the actuation slightly).
I bent mine on a my last night ride, the cage was bent 30° or so out of true @ the bottom, with a big piece of wood stuck between the 2 jockey wheels, surprisingly I just physically bent it back into roughly parallel & it's still working (replacment is at the post office).
I have a friend I ride with, he does half the miles I do, so far over the last 2 years he destroyed an XTR and XT shadow mech.
It's all pretty meaningless, just luck really - just buy which you feel is better.
Not sure of the size/number but it's just a standard beading, 2RS. Would need to check what I have in the workshop. Can do tonight if you need,
C
Having googled for the exact same problem as the OP, can anyone confirm that the correct replacement bearing is a 626-2RS?
My X7 jockey wheels are both seized too. I replaced then with a couple of old Shimano ones out of an LX rear mech. They work.
Sram ones haven't lasted very long..
Mine are bigger (much bigger) as they are 2007 I think. I have just bought a new mech (ready for going to the Alps in summer) and took out a J-wheel. I see the bearing is much smaller but exactly the same idea. Whatever is printed on the bearing rubber will be right. Put that into ebay as a search & you'll probably find them for less than £1 as they will be used on skateboards or something
C
As mine were looking like beyond repair, I took them to bits and gave them a clean and some new grease. Sorted.
Tried to remove the bearing but they aren't for moving. Tips?
Anyhow, looks like they are 626RS by S&S. Mine don't have a 2 in front of the RS bit but are off a SRAM X7 from 2010. I think the 2 in front of the RS means 2 rubber seals.
Kaesae might be able to help with supplying those bearings. He's on here somewhere.
Thanks, I've ordered a 10 pack off eBay for a fiver. Will let you know how I get on. I'm planning on using sockets and a nut and bolt to push the old bearing out and the new one in, something similar to this:
I replaced the whole wheel with kcmc(?) alloy jockey wheels from eBay - they are pretty cheap and last ages longer than the standard ones
I thought the KCMC ones were for the X.0 only. On checking the SRAM parts list, the X.0 has different wheels than the X.9/X.7, otherwise I would have gone that route myself!
Well I broke the xo mech and replaced it with a new x9 one. The jockeys wore out in 6months so I've just put the old ones in the new mech and they work fine.
Perhaps something changed?
Interesting! Were the old jockeys in your X.9 identical to each other? In mine one is stamped "Lower Pulley" and the teeth have a different profile, although that could just be wear. I'm tempted to order those trick alloy jockey wheels now 😀
I believe the 2 SRAM sell are top and bottom specific, but kcmc are both the same.
I "think" the top has a better bearing arrangement to maintain clean gear shifting. The kcmc are both proper bearings rather than one being an oiled bush.
I might have made all this up...
awesom-o
Get some of the BBB for £15 from;
These have sealed cartridge bearings which will outlast the SRAM offerings. Bearings usually outlast the composite wheel material.
Shimano below XT has sintered bushes that wear rapidly, XT has a ceramic upper guide bearing with lateral float and a sealed cartridge tension lower. XTR has 2 sealed bearings.
PaulD
The 626-2RS are definitely the right bearings, however I cracked not one but both jockeys trying to extract the old bearings using a nut bolt washer socket combo 🙁 Maybe warming them up to make the plastic more pliable would have been a good idea 😕
KCNC on order 🙂
The KCNC definitely fit the 2011 X.9 10-speed rear derailleur. Look trick, run smooth 😀
Score!