GT Tequesta - Help Needed

[Little Butch]

First post here so hey everyone!

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 budget commuter/tourer. But I’ll need help as I’m pretty useless with bikes.... :roll:

First off, some pictures....

 

[MR OX]

Re:

looks fairly tidy

 

[Little Butch]

Thanks, love the look of these frames and the colours.

I can’t get the handlebars to stay in one place though. Am I right in thinking that the long Allen bolt through the steering tube does this? I’m new to pulling bikes apart. There’s a rubber ‘sleeve’ that sits between the steering tube and the handlebars where they slot into the tube which looks like some kind of spacer, doesn’t look right to me?

 

[MT62]

First of all, nice bike choice, looks to be 1993 year and the colour is nice.
And to the headset thingy. The Tequesta should have probably 1 1/8" headset size, in threaded version. It means the stem should have a diameter of 25,4mm (not sure now whether 25,2 or 25,4, doesn't matter). I guess someone tried using a narrower stem that should belong to a 1" headset, so that the stem is 22,2mm.
That's why it can't stay in place and the previous owner tried to make a "reduction" out of the rubber bit.

Maybe it is something else, but this looks quite likely to me. Measure the diameter of the stem, or put it out and remove the rubber thing. The headset could be redone, too, I think - there seem to be a bit too many spacers and things there. Also, if it is this case, you would need a 1 1/8" stem for threaded headset, which is not that common, but eventually you will find one.
Definitely don't ride it prior to checking this.

 

[Little Butch]

Thank you for the reply. I thought that would be the case. I’ll have to hunt for the correct stem I guess...

 

[Little Butch]

Just bought a club roost I beam quill stem in 1 1/8 so hoping that gets the bike rideable at least!

 

[Little Butch]

Stripped off the rapid shifter for the rear derailer as it was just slipping - 5 minutes in hot water and it was free and shifting like a goodun! Just need to buy some spray lube for it although It doesn’t fit onto my exage brake levers like the left one so will probably replace it eventually.

I also removed a stand which revealed what the sapphire blue paint SHOULD look like. Mines faded to a much lighter blue but seems to have also gone a lot more ‘flouresant’ too - is it possible to bring it all back to how it was originally? T cut or similar?

Could anybody recommend a spray lube for the gear shifters, a chain lube and a decent headset that won’t break the bank? Bike will just be used to commute mainly...

 

[Little Butch]

Need to also replace the seatpost as the bike came with one which is too small, packed out with a ‘filler sleeve’ - does anybody know which diameter for a 1993 gt Tequesta?

 

[Little Butch]

Kalloy 26.8mm seatpost stem ordered, think I’ll just fit this saddle to it for now to keep things nice and cheap.

Only just realised that not only does the right hand side shifter not fit with my exage brake levers, it’s also 9 speed - I’ve got a 7 speed cassette on the rear wheel which I plan on selling anyway. Are rear derailleurs specific to how many cogs?

What’s the most sensible option here, buy a 7 speed shifter and 7 speed rear wheel which I want to replace anyway?

 

[Little Butch]

Bought a cheap scrap bike earlier for parts. Came with 2x Schwalbde Marathon plus tyres which was a result. Toying with the idea of fitting the mudguards too but not sure how it’ll look.