What is GT85 used for?

rumbataz

Apologies for the newbie question. I've been given a can of GT85 for free when I purchased my bike and accessories. Which bits of the bike should this be used on, and which bits should I not use it on?

Chunkers1980

Search for WD40 GT 85 threads - there are lots of them.

Anything from nothing, to just cables, to everything but the brakes.

DF33

Mrs says it makes her sore down there. Gone back to the WD40

cooldad

I'm in the nothing really camp.

snotty badger

I use it on my cables with middleburn cable oilers. Just keep it away from bearings really.

delcol

i use it to clean my brake discs and pads... it's especially good on pads..... :P :P :P


i'm in the no no no no no no no camp....

JohnnyAllez

I only use it `coz it smells nicer than WD40

Other than that, use it as a water repellant on components after washing the bike, not on the brakes obviously, use a Teflon type lube spray on the mech pivots, any open cable runs etc and a decent chain wax on the chain.

mrmonkfinger

Its great as a water repellent on bits like bolt heads and gear cables. Useful if you ever get your bike wet. Or wash it.

It works pretty good as a degreaser. For that reason keep it away from anything that has grease or lubricant - ie inside bearings, on the chain. Chains and bearings need proper lube and grease.

CharlieH

I spray a bit on my spd's and cleats to keep them nice and smooth (and rust free)
Did this for years and never had a stuck cleat.

DickBarton

Use it to coat my front and rear mech after a wash, and also use it to coat my SPDs. Used to use it on my chain with no issues, used to get some real smooth shifts with it...seemed to work very well but when it got proper wet, I'd need to apply it at start and end of each ride...I stopped using it due to that - a can a week wasn't helping the finances!

I use Squirt o the chain now and GT-85 on the mechs, SPDs and sometimes the shifters (when I can be bothered opening them up and soaking them).

andy46

I'm another who does NOT use it.

I remember a while ago we were going off for a days riding, and my mate got the WD40 out and covered his chain, cassette and front and rear mechs with it.
He then turns to me and asks if I'd like mine doing before we go??

NO I F*#*ING WELL DON'T! It doesn't belong anywhere on a bike really, there is much better products out there that have been developed especially for bikes.

teulk

I really don't know why people are anti towards WD40 and such like, put it where it should go and keep it away from where it shouldn't. Simple. Is oil bad for your car, well yes of course it is if you put it in your fuel tank but no if you put it in the engine.

386ka

teulk wrote:

I really don't know why people are anti towards WD40 and such like, put it where it should go and keep it away from where it shouldn't. Simple. Is oil bad for your car, well yes of course it is if you put it in your fuel tank but no if you put it in the engine.

+1

cooldad

386ka wrote:

teulk wrote:

I really don't know why people are anti towards WD40 and such like, put it where it should go and keep it away from where it shouldn't. Simple. Is oil bad for your car, well yes of course it is if you put it in your fuel tank but no if you put it in the engine.

+1

Because people seem to think it is a general bike coating, like chocolate.

Chunkers1980

andy46 wrote:

I'm another who does NOT use it.

I remember a while ago we were going off for a days riding, and my mate got the WD40 out and covered his chain, cassette and front and rear mechs with it.
He then turns to me and asks if I'd like mine doing before we go??

If no other maintenance is done bar this then it's 100% better than not doing anything.

S-M

Morrisons do an own brand "maintence spray" for 99p that appears to have more oil and less solvent, i bought some to flush out some bearings and was a little disappointed with its degreasing quality's.

Tried some on the chain before a ride and it seamed ok to be honest, by the end of the ride it was black and dirty, wiped it down, then lubed it again before the next ride.

Also tried some on the cables and it was decent on that.

DickBarton

teulk wrote:

I really don't know why people are anti towards WD40 and such like, put it where it should go and keep it away from where it shouldn't. Simple. Is oil bad for your car, well yes of course it is if you put it in your fuel tank but no if you put it in the engine.

That of course assumes the owner knows what they are doing...and that is part of the problem - most people don't know...so they buy something that looks like it'll do the job and then just apply it liberally everywhere...

Anonymous

Used to use it as a mist of spray around the mechs and admittedly around the big pivots on the old GT. Just sprayed from a distance so it's more likely to just leave the Teflon residue, but think the benefit was all in my mind. It seemed to help in stopping them creaking so much. It didn't get in the bearings though, and was sure to avoid injecting it into those areas. The mechs mainly benefited as typically I didn't clean them and it would flush out the gunk. Never went near anything else.

Now I just use it to degrease, e.g. taking off a component to clean I'll give it a bath in GT85. Though even then soapy water will do.

The sprays I use now are a squirty oil thing which is good for lubing stuff (no solvent), and furniture polish! Turns out the likes of Mr Sheen and Pledge are recommended for cleaning and giving a protective finish. If nothing else it makes the bike smell nice.

jayson

I use gt85 on my cables to keep them runnin smooth, on my chain when ive cleaned it to get rid of any remaining water before using chain lube, on my front/rear mech when washed to get rid of any remaining water before lubing, on the spring of my pedals to help keep them smooth and many more small jobs similar.

Dont whatever you do get it on your brake pads or rotors cause it will mean new pad time and a serious clean of the rotors before fitting them.

Alot of people dont like it but i get on great with it aslong you avoid the obvious.

Chunkers1980

Always avoid your obvious, obviously.

Anonymous

Re use on chains. From http://www.kmcchain.com/index.php?ln=en&fn=service

"Avoid the use of solvents, not only are these bad for the environment, they remove lubricant from the chain's bearing"

i.e. no GT85 and similar on chains.

DickBarton

Probably should use water only then...it's 99.9% as effective as oil...

bennett_346

DickBarton wrote:

Probably should use water only then

Why?

gtd.

What is GT85 used for?

When Plus Gas isnt available, you work your way down the list.

AC90
GT85
WD40...

That said I don't use them on my bike.

Anonymous

Plus Gas -> 3-in-1 penetrating. Then the rest.

If it's got to the point of using that stuff then I'll have the breaker bar out and may even apply flame.