Gear Knob Restoration

[Jim H]

Hi, I have a wooden gear knob on my car which is a bit of a rare item, the plastic/perspex bubble you view the H formation through is cracked. I've managed to remove it without damage, any ideas on how to replace it? I've done the usual e bay searches etc.. It's not simply a clear disk - so it not a case of making a new one.

Any advice would be welcome.

[CanAm]

A mate had some plastic parts reproduced by a bloke with a 3D printer for under £10.

[Jim H]

I've been thinking 3D printing..But can it be done for objects that need to be transparent?.. I appreciate it's an unusual thread, but I'm using a different gear knob and its ruins the originality - and its bugging me!

[CanAm]

I'll investigate for you

[TooMany2cvs]

How bad's the current one? Make a mould from it - either still on the wood, or after it's removed - then cast one out of a clear resin of some kind.

[steveo3002]

silicone mold from the old part then some clear resin to make a new one

try the modeling section , they do that kinda stuff all the time

[samj2014]

Jim H said:

I've been thinking 3D printing..But can it be done for objects that need to be transparent?.. I appreciate it's an unusual thread, but I'm using a different gear knob and its ruins the originality - and its bugging me!

Not really, no. You might get something that looks almost clear, but most of those types of plastics are pretty uv-sensitive so won't last very long before they crack or become cloudy/yellow etc..

As above, just take a silicone mould off the old one and cast it with a clear resin. Super easy.

[Jim H]

Evening Gentlemen,

Many thanks for all the replies and advice, sincerely appreciated, I'll have a go at the mould/resin idea - and enjoy doing it!.
I'll take this up further in the modelling section.

Thanks again Jim.

[Riley Blue]

Which car is it for Jim?

[Jim H]

Hi, its off my Mk 1 Scirocco Storm, a car I have owned 23 years this month - half my life so far!
I attempted this job about 20 years ago and didn't have much success, I broke the Perspex lens getting it out. I bought a knob of e-bay a few years ago with a similar cracked lens and have only recently got round to having another go..

This time I Araldited a piece of wooden dowel onto the lens, and over time and gently pulling, it came out of its recess. The wood broke off a few times but I just re-attached it with more Araldite. Once I'd got it moving - I knew it would come out.

Of course, because the Araldite is not a solvent it did not mark the lens, I just gently scraped it off afterwards and polished.

It gave just enough mechanical strength to get ahold.. I think whenever you are fettling a classic car - any task like this provide a worth-while challenge, and source for the memory banks!!

I'm looking forward to learning some molding skills next!

[mr alan]

Couldn't you buy a piece of suitably thick Perspex and jig saw a piece out then polish and make fit, you might have to have a few goes at it though till you get one right

[Jim H]

^ I did this twenty years ago. Drew round the old one on a sheet of Perspex, cut out roughly, then filed for hours and hours!.. It just didn't look right - it looked like I'd made it!.. The thing is: the lens is domed and has a lip that sits in a recess around the 'H' patern logo - it's not just a circular disc.
And..... I'm a bit of a perfectionist!
Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

[Riley Blue]

Jim H said:

Hi, its off my Mk 1 Scirocco Storm

Is it the 'golf ball' knob? If so I'm pretty sure you can buy a genuine replacement.

https://www.vwheritage.com/171711141e-golf-ball-ge...

[Jim H]

Riley Blue said:

Jim H said:

Hi, its off my Mk 1 Scirocco Storm

Is it the 'golf ball' knob? If so I'm pretty sure you can buy a genuine replacement.

https://www.vwheritage.com/171711141e-golf-ball-ge...
If only it was that easy... Storms were the run out model, Leather upholstery and a wooden gear knob.. All carried out at Karmann.. That's why I'm trying to stick with originality..

[Riley Blue]

Jim H said:

Is it the 'golf ball' knob? If so I'm pretty sure you can buy a genuine replacement.

https://www.vwheritage.com/171711141e-golf-ball-ge...
If only it was that easy... Storms were the run out model, Leather upholstery and a wooden gear knob.. All carried out at Karmann.. That's why I'm trying to stick with originality..

I know the model, just wasn't sure which gear knob was fitted. I bet you would have found one at Techno Classica last week... If you can post a photo of it I'll keep searching.

ETA: found a photo, not a very large one but the gear shift pattern in the top looks very similar to other models.

Found better pic - I'm now sure this (the shift pattern bit) is used in other VW models so will be relatively easy to find and swap over to the wooden gear knob. :

Edited by Riley Blue on Thursday 13th April 16:32

Edited by Riley Blue on Friday 14th April 10:57

[Jim H]

That is an amazing piece of detective work Mr Blue! Yes that is the very Gear Knob...

I have done e bay searches before on 5 speed H patterns / logos - but its a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack..
My thoughts are that because this was only fitted to the Storm, that realistically would be the only source?..

[steveo3002]

mk2 golf/ polo looks the same

can measure mine if you want

[steveo3002]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scirocco-MK2-Genuine-VW-...

[nsa]

Looks like an acrylic watch screen (crystal) would fit that.




http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_tr...

[droopsnoot]

That's very similar to how the gearknob in my Audi coupe looks when the leather is removed. It's so long since I've looked, I can't remember where the reverse position is, though.