GT Tequesta - Advice please

[Little Butch]

I picked up a GT tequesta the other day which I think is a 1993? It’s not in terrible nick but definitely needs some work. Plan is to build a retro, budget commuter/tourer. But I’ll need help as I’m pretty useless with bikes....

The brakes need tinkering with, the handlebars won’t stay in one place (headset?), the seat tube seems to be too small so they’ve used a ‘spacer’ type tube to pack it out and the gear shifters could do with replacing as theyre temperamental.

Some pictures....

 

[goldcoastjon]

Successful bike repair is 90% analysis and troubleshooting to identify what is out of whack. The rest is far simpler... Go slow, analyze, learn how the parts work, and when you understand them, what needs doing will be clear(er).

Your bike may be fine but just out of adjustment -- hard to know without LOTS more info. Got a friend who rides and wrenches her or his own bikes? That's a good place to start.

There are LOTS of good videos on YouTube and books in your local library about fixing bikes. Also, ask your local bike shop for help and be ready to pay them for some of it. Start with simple stuff and don't do anything until you understand how the mechanisms work. Go slow and don't guess.

Specifically, you may have a loose headset OR the nuts and bolts holding the stem or handlebars may be loose. Identify which specific part(s) are loose or take your bike to your local shop for help.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Re the headset, I'm pretty sure that has a micro adjusting screw (The recessed one on the side). Turning that moves the ring immediately below it up or down to give an easy method of getting a precise load on the bearings.

 

[dan_bo]

Throw those wheels in the bin.

 

[Little Butch]

I agree, the wheels are hideous!
Smokin Joe - you’re right, there’s a tiny Allen key but it seems the head has rounded off....

 

[Smokin Joe]

I agree, the wheels are hideous!
Smokin Joe - you’re right, there’s a tiny Allen key but it seems the head has rounded off....

Get a Torx bit that is a tight fit and tap it in, that should give you enough bite to turn it.

 

[MichaelW2]

The problem with GT bikes for touring is that the triple triangle lowers the intersection of seat stay and seat tube below the top of the wheel. You gain some frame stiffness at the expense of long, non-triangulated and floppy rack stays. The stays may interfere with brake operation. The XL frame sizes may be OK but smaller sizes are sub optimal.

 

[Chris S]

Throw those wheels in the bin.

I rather like them, they make the bike stand out

 

[Little Butch]

I did wonder why I kept reading on forums to avoid a GT for touring - after I’d already bought the thing haha. It’s just an idea for now anyway and I’ll be travelling light if I do start touring.

The problem with GT bikes for touring is that the triple triangle lowers the intersection of seat stay and seat tube below the top of the wheel. You gain some frame stiffness at the expense of long, non-triangulated and floppy rack stays. The stays may interfere with brake operation. The XL frame sizes may be OK but smaller sizes are sub optimal.

 

[dan_bo]

I rather like them, they make the bike stand out

Mate

 

[Cycleops]

Wonder why the previous owner thought the wheels might be a good idea
A new good used set wouldn't be expensive.
This video might be of interest, sorry there's no subtitles :

View: https://youtu.be/nrQQ7UhhmGUS

Sometimes those small Allen grub screws are just filled with dirt, clean it out and hammer the key in a little.
Those shifters are probably just caked up with gunk, flush them out with WD40 and put in some new cables, that should sort it.👍

 

[Little Butch]

The shifters both only work if I apply a little pressure upwards to the thumb shifter But I can’t feel any slipping cogs inside etc?

 

[BalkanExpress]

The shifters both only work if I apply a little pressure upwards to the thumb shifter But I can’t feel any slipping cogs inside etc?

They may be gunked up inside, there is a way of cleaning them by spraying wd40 onto them. Google to see how it is done.

If you like the wheels keep the wheels, embrace that 90ies vibe

 

[Tail End Charlie]

I did wonder why I kept reading on forums to avoid a GT for touring - after I’d already bought the thing haha. It’s just an idea for now anyway and I’ll be travelling light if I do start touring.

Just do something like this. I did this as a temporary measure about 15 years ago whilst I got round to something better, but it's still there. I've toured, commuted, shopped on mine, they are great bikes, very adaptable.

 

[Little Butch]

I’ll have a google for the WD40 trick now, cheers.

Thag rack looks like it does the job! I have V brakes and looks like I could just fit any of the ‘standard’ racks that I see everywhere in Germany or am I missing something?