Does anyone know if i can replace the worn out jockey wheels on my XTR rear mech with XT ones.
The XTR replacements weigh in at aroun £30 which is pretty scandalous for two plastic cogs.
The XT ones are half the price.
ta

yout LBS should have some.

Not very heplful but do not buy trax ones, they seem to sieze up very quickly.

I was about to be swayed by the pretty colours the Tacx ones come in.
It goes against my principles to replace a worn out part with one less expensive.
But I really think Shimano are having a laugh with the price of XTR replacement jocky Wheels, they cant possibly make up nearly %50 of the total cost of the rear mech.
So the XT ones and the XTR ones are the same size?

They will be fine. As will the Deore ones if you are feeling really tight.
The bearings on the XTR ones are "better" than the bushings on the XT ones, but I defy anybody to tell the difference when riding.

Xt will work but they are not as well sealed and don't have the float that XTR has.

or for around £30 a new XT rear mech?

I've always worn the teeth to a point before the bushings have given up on the XT ones, or the bearings have gone on the XTRs, so I just use XT ones on all my bikes. But then, any XTR bits (except V brakes) get replaced by XT when they wear out.

I reckon I will go with the XT ones, the original XTR ones have been totaly wrecked since November 2003. I suppose This is their second winter, but the plastic is completely worn out of shape and they have quite a large side to side wobble.
I dont fancy stumping up 30 notes on jockey wheels every year, I would rather replace the rear mech every other year.

You can use the XT ones without problem, just make sure you get 9-speed ones (some 8-speed are a bit thicker), the rest is ok.

Regarding the float that Tim XCrider (btw hi there again Tim) I wonder, actually both should have a similar amount, as the float is an important part of the HG function. If you put cheap pulleys without float, the adjustment can become a real hazzle and they might make a noise during riding.

Frank / Shimano

Well, there you go. Straight from the equestrian hay chomper.

The 9 speed XT top jockeys have more teeth than the 8 speed.

I'm at work at the mo so I couldn't tell you the number - 12 versus 11 at a guess.

Reggie,
you're speaking of some old 8-speed models vs new ones I assume. Current Alivio (9-speed) is 11T and the 9-speed ones are 11 T too. Some current lower ones (Acera/Altus) are using the megarange with a 13T top and 15T lower pulley, that allows a shorter cage with a long chainstroke.

BTW: Pat, what is a chomper? My poor school english is not enough for that.....

Thanks all,
ordered some XT ones today.

Frank,
I was just referring to XT ones. The nine speed ones are 11T but the old, fatter 8-speed ones are 10T, if my mind is working as it should.

Frank - chomper is a slang term for mouth.
so equestrian hay chomper = horses mouth.

For the record, the upper XT jockey has sealed bearings and float. The lower jockey has no float.

Also you can use the upper jockey in the lower position without too much trouble, but not vice versa.