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General Category >> Technical >> Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
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Message started by jayg on Nov 5^th, 2010, 3:14pm

Title: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by jayg on Nov 5^th, 2010, 3:14pm

Have been experiencing a worsening squeal in the drive train of my early model 2009 X-Stream. At first I thought it might be the chain idler, but finally traced it to the orignial-equipment, SRAM X.9 derailleur. Took the jockey wheels off the derailleur and discovered the upper wheel assembly has a strange design. It doesn't have a ball bearing or bushing. The plastic wheel has about a 1/2" diameter, precision-bored hole in it, and spins around a fixed, polished, steel cylinder section. The assembly was dry as a bone. Lubed it up, and assembled and installed the derailleur - Voila, no squeal. I believe later versions of the X.9 derailleur have bushed upper jockey wheels.

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Nov 7^th, 2010, 9:49am

Interesting find... I'll take a look at mine today...

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Nov 27^th, 2010, 10:11pm

jayg wrote:

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by jayg on Nov 28^th, 2010, 9:24am

FlyingLaZBoy wrote:

[quote author=jayg link=1288988066/0#0 date=1288988065]Have been experiencing a worsening squeal in the drive train of my early model 2009 X-Stream. At first I thought it might be the chain idler, but finally traced it to the orignial-equipment, SRAM X.9 derailleur. Took the jockey wheels off the derailleur and discovered the upper wheel assembly has a strange design. It doesn't have a ball bearing or bushing. The plastic wheel has about a 1/2" diameter, precision-bored hole in it, and spins around a fixed, polished, steel cylinder section. The assembly was dry as a bone. Lubed it up, and assembled and installed the derailleur - Voila, no squeal. I believe later versions of the X.9 derailleur have bushed upper jockey wheels.

I think I must have the same type... no squeal, but that upper wheel has become VERY difficult to spin... Lubing it doesn't seem to have totally solved the problem, but it helped some... I didn't take it apart, but I may do that tomorrow afternoon... I'm going to ask RANS about it...
[/quote]

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/jayg_2010/DSC00034.jpg

If the bike wheel side of the upper jockey wheel looks like this, it's the older, bearingless design.

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by MrOverdressed on Nov 29^th, 2010, 9:04pm

Jay how many miles have you rolled-up on your XStream since you've had it? :)

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by jayg on Nov 29^th, 2010, 10:13pm

MrOverdressed wrote:

Jay how many miles have you rolled-up on your XStream since you've had it? :)

2,907 miles. I really like the bike. Very stable. Thought I was going to go down on it a couple of times, but the bike uprighted itself with steering input. It's the only one of my bikes I will ride in inclement weather on purpose.

Have you found yourself a bike to replace the X-Stream?

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by MrOverdressed on Nov 30^th, 2010, 1:12pm

Thats great! If you add the ~1050 miles I rolled (with different components) the frame has about 4000 miles. I havnt replaced the XStream yet. BUT I did get a beater bike for winter. Its a EZ-Sport.
http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents/sun/images/sun_ez_sport_lg.jpg
I have the AX version. The Bike is better than I expected. I need to add a pair of splash fenders to it.
I hope to get a performance class recumbent next spring.
The large size X-Stream (Frame) kit would be my first choice.

How much slower are you on the Xstream compared to your other performance bikes?

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by jayg on Nov 30^th, 2010, 8:21pm

MrOverdressed wrote:

Thats great! If you add the ~1050 miles I rolled (with different components) the frame has about 4000 miles. I havnt replaced the XStream yet. BUT I did get a beater bike for winter. Its a EZ-Sport.
I have the AX version. The Bike is better than I expected. I need to add a pair of splash fenders to it.
I hope to get a performance class recumbent next spring.
The large size X-Stream (Frame) kit would be my first choice.

How much slower are you on the Xstream compared to your other performance bikes?

Glad you found a temp bike that works for you. Hope to see you on your performance bike on some pay rides next Spring .

The X-Stream with the seat laid back may have a 1 to 2 mph lower cruising speed than my two low racers and Carbent high racer. Maybe it has a 2 to 3 mph lower max sprint speed than the others. Hard to judge, because my strength, and aerobic and wind conditions vary.

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Dec 21^st, 2010, 4:02pm

That upper jockey wheel would barely move in Sunday morning's low 40's temps... I took it to PCF this morning, and it moved much easier in the already-70 degrees -- but the tech took it apart, cleaned and re-lubed the inner rings, and it seems to be back to normal now. Weird design, but it's been redesigned, apparently.

I let RANS know about it (my instance and Jay's), and it's the first they've heard of it - but now they know... Tanner will do some more digging.

Title: Re: Squeal in X-Stream Drive Train
Post by jayg on Dec 21^st, 2010, 6:28pm

Haven't had any more trouble with the X.9 derailleur, since I took apart and lubed the upper jockey wheel.