My knob won't come off!

Bio · Post by **Bio** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:22 pm

For serious. I can pull the gaiter down and can't unscrew the shifter knob and i've put all my force into it that I can.
I have a nice bronze metal one to fit and it's starting to annoy me.

Is there any specific way that I need to do this or is it a case of try harder?

mills · Post by **mills** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:30 pm

yeah it should just screw off bud, anti-clockwise

Bio · Post by **Bio** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:32 pm

Hmm that's what I'm trying. I guess I'm being a bit of a wuss then!

Shiny · Post by **Shiny** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:34 pm

Have a word with Klixen, the internet's best authority on playing with knobs...

Is it a case that you cant get grip? Maybe use something as a lever, a bit like the old fashioned oil filter removers that used a strap?

Supermarine Blues · Post by **Supermarine Blues** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:58 pm

Is there a grub screw on the side, somewhere?

Bio · Post by **Bio** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:05 pm

Managed to do it. I ended up using my jumper to get more purchase and it EVENTUALLY went.
Screwed the new one one a bit tight however and because it's smooth is even harder to remove. lol. So now its stuck on a quarter reverse turn so I'll fix it later. Probably wind up using a pair of marigolds or something to get more purchase

However the gaiter now looks like a pile of crap ala;

I'll probably have to go back to standard until I can get a new suitable replacement, unless there is a quick mod or something that I can do to make it look nicer?

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:27 pm

Its not a simple case of unscrewing it. You have to pull down the tab below the know on the gaitor and turn at the same time.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:37 pm

You'll find quite often gear knobs are loctited on, so once you have removed it again, clean up the thread and try again.

Had you levered the plastic chrome neck piece off first?

With regards to the gaiter, remove the gaiter and then remove the chrome plastic neck from it. Then turn the gaiter inside out and slide it (upside down) back down over the naked gearstick. Then either using a small zip-tie or piece of string or even a ready (on the gearstick) tightly-wound thick elastic band, bind it around the tip of the gaiter. make sure there's enough gaiter below the fastening so as it won't pull out. Then pull the gaiter back down over the gearstick which should now be face outside out and re-fasten to the centre console.

I know the gaiter base frame on a 4th can only be fixed from underneath, so the centre console does need to be lifted to get to it. I imagine this could be the same for the 5th, but that's a method that won't cost you anything.

Then re-attach your knob and carefully slide the gaiter (gripping the binding underneath) up to the knob.

Will look something like this...

Mine was with a shorter short shifter as well, hence the extra bunch.

Bio · Post by **Bio** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:49 pm

Nafe that's fantastic. I'll give it a bosh tomorrow morning

Yeah I'd pulled the plastic bit off first so I figure it may have been loctited on or just screwed right down tight. Either that or I'm a bit of a girl

Rocky · Post by **Rocky** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:14 pm

NafemanNathan wrote:You'll find quite often gear knobs are loctited on, so once you have removed it again, clean up the thread and try again.

Had you levered the plastic chrome neck piece off first?

With regards to the gaiter, remove the gaiter and then remove the chrome plastic neck from it. Then turn the gaiter inside out and slide it (upside down) back down over the naked gearstick. Then either using a small zip-tie or piece of string or even a ready (on the gearstick) tightly-wound thick elastic band, bind it around the tip of the gaiter. make sure there's enough gaiter below the fastening so as it won't pull out. Then pull the gaiter back down over the gearstick which should now be face outside out and re-fasten to the centre console.

I know the gaiter base frame on a 4th can only be fixed from underneath, so the centre console does need to be lifted to get to it. I imagine this could be the same for the 5th, but that's a method that won't cost you anything.

Then re-attach your knob and carefully slide the gaiter (gripping the binding underneath) up to the knob.

Will look something like this...

Mine was with a shorter short shifter as well, hence the extra bunch.

I still need to do this but since I've put the original back on for winter I can wait.......it's surprising how cold a titanium knob can get (tee hee)