Elite Return Idler

Nowhere will you find a better return idler than the Elite Return Idler from T-Cycle. First there's its super-tough, exquisitely machined construction: the beautiful aerospace-grade nylon sideplates, the supremely durable industrial urethane chainbed and the immaculately designed inner cores. Then there's the bearing: either the unbeatable resilience and consistency of the precision hybrid ceramic bearings (8mm only) or top-quality ABEC-7 steel bearings (for other sizes). Never has a ride been so smooth and so reliable as with an Elite Return Idler.

FAQ

1. What's so great about this idler?
   
   This idler is a lightweight return side idler. It's in our Elite Series, which means the very best of everything. It has a very light machined-out aluminum frame. The chain runs on a tough industrial urethane bed. The sideplates are fiberglass reinforced Nylon, tapered to guide the chain in super quietly. Everything runs on a single top quality bearing. It's tough, light, and really sharp looking. It's the ultimate idler for any return application.
   
   
2. How big is the idler?
   
   The Return idler has an outside diameter of 2.75 inches (70mm) and is 0.60 inches (15.2mm) thick.
   
   
3. Can this idler be repaired?
   
   Yes, we can replace any element of the idler. With reasonable care and proper alignment, the idler should last tens of thousands of miles, but in the rare instance that something has worn out or been damaged, contact us and we can revitalize your idler!
   
4. What about efficiency and noise?
   
   These idlers are about as efficient as you could possibly get and basically silent. The urethane for the chainbed is specifically chosen for its durability and durometer. It is just the right level of cushioning, without being spongy. The sideplates are carefully tapered and rounded to minimize rubbing and noise.
   
   
5. What's the difference between these idlers and the Sport Series idlers?
   
   The Elite Series idlers have run on hybrid ceramic bearings and feature completely CNC machined frames. The frames are extensively hollowed out for lightness. They are designed to look as good as they work. The Sport Series idlers are designed to be simple, high performance, and tough. The look is much simpler, more businesslike than bling.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Available with either 8mm or 10mm ID bearings. The most common bearing size on recumbents is 8mm.
• In case of damage, all parts are individually replaceable. Contact us for details.
• The fasteners are M3 x 12 stainless steel socket head cap screws.
• The Elite Return Idler weighs 52g
• The urethane chainbed is very durable, but can be affected by strong solvents. Dumonde Pro lubes apparently have such solvents in them. All the other lubes we and our customers have tried are okay. We don't recommend using Dumonde Pro series chainlubes with this idler.
• Bearing Care: The bearing is shielded, not sealed. Shielded bearings have less rolling resistance because the seal, while super close, doesn't actually rub. True sealed bearings are rare, when people talk about "sealed bearings", they usually actually mean shielded. These are top quality shielded bearings and will last a long time. What kills bearings is solvent, dirt, and water intrusion. As long as you don't spray things on the bearing faces, you will be okay. Regular amounts of dust and dirt getting on the outsides of the bearings won't be a problem, as it's hard for it to get past the shields (the shields really do come *very* close to the bearings). When you clean them, what you want to do is gently wipe dirt off and away from bearings, rather than rub aggressively and push the dirt past the shields. There is no need to lube the bearing, the special grease that's in them is what they need.
• No maintenance should be required other than occasional cleaning with a paper towel or soft cloth. We recommend keeping solvents and soap and water away from the bearings, they don't need aggressive cleaning and solvents and soaps tend to go after the grease. It's water resistant, but solvents and soaps are harder to deal with.
• We recommend setting up your idler so it can float side to side with the chain as you shift. If your existing idler mount doesn't allow for this, we offer a variety of upgrade parts to make this possible.