Gear knob and gaiter... how to remove?

**Wally Dog** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 01:39

Hi all,

I'm sure someone on here will be kind enough to end a minor misery I have encountered - namely how in the name of all that is mechanical do I remove the gear knob and gater? I've tried twisting, pulling, pushing, poking, prodding, swearing, the force and stopped just short of a blow torch trying to get the phalic shaped monster off!!!!!!!!!!

GGGGNNNNNNEEEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRmf!

Do I have to take the whole lot out of the gearchange mechanism or is there something earth-shatteringly simple that I have missed? Haynes manual is not being forthcoming with useful information and I'm sick of losing stuff down the hole.

Thankyouplease for helping.

**Vikingxl** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 08:54

You will either need to cut it off of make a shim to push up inside the knob

**t5 pete** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 08:55

Your supposed to give them a quick hard pull but this doesnt always work so I ended up with a hack saw blade and cut it off (awaits pi$$ taking)

**Pinup_gal** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 09:21

Originally Posted by t5 pete

Your supposed to give the a quick hard pull but this doesnt always work so I ended up with a hack saw blade and cut it off (awaits pi$$ taking)

Pete :O you cut off your knob :O

**T5frankie** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 09:35

Bread knife lol, they are moulded on,

**Wally Dog** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 10:01

Originally Posted by Vikingxl

You will either need to cut it off of make a shim to push up inside the knob

Ooh, when you say make up a shim, how will this help remove the gear knob and gaiter? What sort of size does this shim need to be?

Thanks

**Wally Dog** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 10:09

Originally Posted by t5frankie

Bread knife lol, they are moulded on,

Kind of tried this in a scrapyard - took all the plastic stuff off the gearknob with a knife and it revealed a smooth metal dome underneath (I was looking for a screw or a bolt in the top to un-do).

I was hoping that it would be relatively easy to remove and replace with another standatd item.... alas not it seems!!!!

**Vikingxl** · Wednesday 9th May 2012, 10:11

Shim needs to be pretty thin and wrap around the lever itself. As you push it up into the base of the knob it will push the plastic tabs back that are locked into place in a groove, releasing the knob.