Old GT Karakoram help needed

[trickylad]

I am going to get the Karakoram back on the trails. frame is a 1992

A while ago I bought a syncros headset for it, 1,1/8" very nice.

Frame has had some remedial work and powder coated and just last weekend I tried to slide the headset cups into place by hand and the fit was tiiiiiiiight, I mean tight enough to make me wonder if actually it is 1,1/8" ( or not.)

Anyone give me a definitive answer?

Or has the powder coating process changed the size ever so slightly and I just need a LBS press to do the job?


TL

 

[FMJ]

The powdercoater should have masked off your headset races. You'll probably need to get them reamed and faced.........and your seat tube reamed.........and your BB threads chased........and faced.........and your brake boss threads chased...........

 

[drystonepaul]

It's definitely an 1 1/8th head tube so what FMJ says could well be the problem and the solution.

 

[trickylad]

Armourtex did the paint work and normally take great care of the threads. I'll have a look and take some pics

Thanks for the confirmation on size Paul.

You wouldn't happen to know seatpost size would you?

 

[drystonepaul]

You wouldn't happen to know seatpost size would you?

Not 100% sure. I'd say either a 26.4 or 26.8mm.

50:50. Which I suppose equals 100% afterall.

 

[ishaw]

I've got the tequila sunrise version and the seatpost is neither 26.8 as I thought, nor is it 26.4, both of these I found out to my cost. I've a 26.6 on the way so hopefully it will fit.

 

[Major22]

My 1989/90 Karakoram K2 takes a 26,4 seat post, but yours is a bit newer so...

Good looking frame btw Is it a 18"?

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

My 1989/90 Karakoram K2 takes a 26,4 seat post, but yours is a bit newer so...

Good looking frame btw Is it a 18"?

yes

 

[Radoslaw]

I have exactly same frame but 16" I suppose you're not looking for a smaller size? Mine taken 26.8 mm seatpost but fit very tight so i beleive 26.6 would fit better in this case. 26.4 might be too loose.

 

[bordercollie1]

I had the terrible yellow / orange coloured Karakoram which defo had a 1.125 h'set. In a terrible mix up of parts between 2 perfectly good bikes I had a Velocity stem and project 2 forks from my Kona on the GT frame. What was I thinking?

They were made of True Temper tubing so they were a bit of a bargain. Of course by '92 the U brake was looking very dated.