Pro Connect - Jockey looking cocky at the oche?

[deadmonkey]

Should my jockey wheels spin entirely freely?

When I last removed them for a proper clean one of them disassembled, ironically it is labelled "Shimano sealed ceramic bush G pulley" but isn't actually sealed, the tease

Like humpty I put it back together and it does rotate, but I wouldn't say it spins freely, hence as they've done 4500kms I'm tempted to buy a new pair?

I only wanted to ask as they're not cheap enough that I'd do it without it being beneficial - I believe they're 11T, such as these?

Tacx Jockey Wheels Black - 7/8sp Shimano 8/9/10sp SRAM | eBay

Tacx Jockey Wheels Black - 7/8sp Shimano 8/9/10sp SRAM | eBay

 

[flecc]

In my experience they don't spin freely for very long, they soon get grit etc in the bearings and no matter how well cleaned they never return to new performance.

Any drag is minimised by them being larger in diameter and therefore having to rotate less, so for that reason I like the rear mechanisms that make a feature of that, this Shimano Acera with 13 and 15 tooth jockey wheels being one example. They also keep any chain muck further from their bearings:

 

[deadmonkey]

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, as always