Removing gear knob - help please

[JFReturns]

Hi PH'ers,

I have a day off and planned to replace the gear boots on my MK1 '5. However, I have fallen at the very first hurdle and cannot get the sodding gear knob off!

As far as I can see, it is a standard knob and does not have any grub screws. I am twisting anti-clockwise, and there is some 'give' but this feels like the gear stick twisting and at no point does it feel like it is unscrewing. I've given it a gentle tap with a hammer but to no avail.

Help! How can I get it off? I feel like if I put any more brute strength into it, I'll either break myself or the car....

Edited by JFReturns on Thursday 26th August 13:19

[barwea]

Not much help, but mine just screws off, anti-clockwise as you say. Could be that someone has put some thread lock or similar on it in the past?

[Jonny671]

barwea said:

Not much help, but mine just screws off, anti-clockwise as you say. Could be that someone has put some thread lock or similar on it in the past?

Was going to say the same thing, it just turns Anti-Clockwise and screws off.. Feels like its screwing for a long time before it comes off.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If it's never been removed before it might take a lot of force to shift it (did you see what I did there ). I had to use a chain-wrench to remove mine!

[den9112]

I had a very simalar problem recently ,what i did after trying with my hand (as it feels like you are going to break it ) ...was wrap some tape around the gear knob and got my mole grips on the stem and one set on the gear knob and went for it and it did the trick for me.

[JFReturns]

Thanks for the replies... but I have done it another way.

If I had continued to force it whilst the gear lever was intact I am 100% sure I would have ripped the nuts out - bad. Instead, at the expense of the leather gaitor, I took the gear lever out completely then wrapped it in a cloth and put it in a vice. Unscrewed fairly easily then!



The new boots make an amazing difference by the way!