help with gearknob removal

Chi3f · Postby **Chi3f** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:50 pm

hello all....i've been trying to remove my gearknob the past few days, it appears that it has been loctited or superglued to the shaft
the mechanic must've done it when i went in for a routine service...

i've tried yelling at it, hosing the thread with wd40, twisting really hard with really grippy gloves on whilst swearing loudly

does anyone else have any suggestions on how to go about this? any help would be greatly appreciated...

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:32 am

try heating up the metal shaft with a hair dryer or similar, wrap something thick around the gear knob and use vice grips.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:59 am

You are turning counter-clockwise yeah?

some rubber stuff (like that non slip matting stuff) around the knob, and gripped with vice grips or something should give more leverage to crack the thread.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:10 am

If you have any spare silicon hose and an oil filter "spanner", try wrapping the knob in the silicon hose and unscrewing with the oil filter "spanner".

Spare bits of silicon hose have awesome grip for unscrewing things (even keep one in the kitchen for those pesky jars that just wont open).

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:47 pm

the suggestions are good but why would the mechanic loctite the knob in position and why was it removed? Turret fill? Watch the hair dryer as the knob covering could get damaged. You can also get a hand held tool with an adjustable strap ( inexpensive and very useful for marmalade jars) which can be used like a shifter ( often used in kitchens etc) , Wrap the knob as suggested then adjust the strap and give it a go.

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:11 pm

I found that going for a decent drive warmed the gearbox which transfers heat into the gear stick.
While it is still hot, try and unscrew the gear knob.

Similar effect to using a hair-dryer but with the following advantages
You can go for a drive
No chance of damaging the gear knob with too much heat.

On the other hand, think what the neighbours will say if they see you with a hair-dryer in the MX5

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:31 pm

The gearknobs are VERY tight when new from the factory.
Don't neccesarily blame the mechanic.

When undoing it for the first time, you'll probably hear a "crack" sound when the knob is first loosened.

Just get it warm, then use the methods suggested above.
You'll loosen it eventually with some muscle power.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:57 pm

Benny wrote:you'll probably hear a "crack" sound when the knob is first loosened.

I'll make more noise than that!

Chi3f · Postby **Chi3f** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:36 am

Benny wrote:The gearknobs are VERY tight when new from the factory.
Don't neccesarily blame the mechanic.

When undoing it for the first time, you'll probably hear a "crack" sound when the knob is first loosened.

Just get it warm, then use the methods suggested above.
You'll loosen it eventually with some muscle power.

its not factory...its some silver metal ball looking thing
i used to be able to just unscrew it with ease whenever i pleased...

sounds like a solid idea though...cant believe i forgot about using the hair dryer...
ill try the heat gun and vice grip..im just afaid ill overcook it and rip whole shaft out...

thanks for everyones input..see how this all turns out....

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:20 am

Does it have grub screw through the side somewhere that locks it to the gear lever?

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:00 am

proper problem definition- we have all assumed it was a standard knob. Some of the aftermarket ones are not threaded but use a plastic tube and have a ring at the base of the knob which secures the knob/ tube to the shaft with grub screws. There may also be a ring on the knob base which screws on and hides the grub screws. If that is the set up - unscrew the ring which gets access to the grub screws and remove these with a allan key- you can buy these at nominal cost if you do not have one.

Chi3f · Postby **Chi3f** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:36 pm

nah this one's heaps simple...its just a ball with some thread in it and you just twist it on/off....
i used pick at it while waiting at the lights...taking it off...putting it back on etc...too easy...

i should've made it clearer what type of gearknob it was from the start though

land864 · Postby **land864** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:05 pm

The mech haven't cross threaded it have they :roll:

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:06 am

Go to a hardware store or supermarket and buy one of these - they are commonly used for opening jars and tight lids and work a treat on things like gear knobs: