Friggin' gearknob !!

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:31 pm

In short, is there some kind of knack to getting the thing off? Doesn't seem to twist in either direction and pulling isn't doing the trick either.

I've got an annoying clicking sound when changing gears and am convinced it's coming from under the cowling somewhere (got the wife to move the gearstick around while I was round the back, an underneath so I'm sure it ain't coming from there). It's like metal on metal snickety clickety sound.

Anyway.. taken the retaining screws out, removed the handbrake shroud, disconnected the fag lighter... last thing to do is to get this bloomin' gearknob off.

Although I can lift the cowling somewhat to see below, I can't see enough to determine what the clickety click is.

Pliers underneath the knob with a good smack upwards with a mallet?? Don't want to break anything though.

I'm away to stick the kettle on before heading out to the garage again so any thoughts welcome..

token pic below:

Andy

j2 lot · Post by **j2 lot** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:41 pm

S2s have a small screw to loosten but if not one there requires brute force - and hope to don't scratch your knob ( o-er missus) !!

als 3dr · Post by **als 3dr** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:44 pm

it's tread locked on if u wrap masking tape around it then with a pair of grips it should u screw as normal but it is very tight be carefull not to mark it

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:46 pm

Ahh... no screw on mine... so I'll try the masking tape suggestion...

Be right back. I have resorted to Carlsberg as the kettle seemed like too much of a hassle.

Andy.

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:58 pm

I've taken & helped take of 2 gearknobs so far....

Wrenches and brute force both times....

Haven't managed to do it without marking the knob yet though.... even with the knob wrapped up lots and lots in soft cloths..... be careful!!

Dave.

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:08 pm

F*************** AAARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH

Glad I got that out my system. This thing aint budging. Tried the tape but the tape is now slipping round the gearknob... It ain't even moved a single mm. Tried with less tape, to reduce the possibility of slip but the grips have gone right through and marked it... still no movement.

Funny how it's the stupid things that make such a simple job such a pain.

Taking 5 mins to sip my beer and calm down... then I'll attack it again with mole grips and a towel. If I ever get it off I've then got to work out where the heck this noise it coming from.

Blaque · Post by **Blaque** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:17 pm

I managed to get mine off with a "baby-Boa" It's a beefed-up version of those things you get advertised in sunday paper suppliments, for old ladies to take screw top jars off.

Ask at Halfuds

[/url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-boa-bottle ... 1J0456[url]

HTH

Brigita · Post by **Brigita** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:19 pm

How you getting on Andy?

Don't tell me.... you're on the whisky/shots now??

B

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:37 pm

Muhuhuhuhu...

The towels slipped also, so as I had already scratched it I just went for mole grips straight on.

Take that .... !!

Bit of wet 'n' dry should get rid of the ridges I think, and then maybe a powder coat if it realy merits it. Hope I can find this bloomin' clickety click click now.

Yep... I have a bottle of Jim Beam sitting on one of my optics, and some ice in the freezer out in the garage. Just what I need

Thanks for the assistance peeps.. I was just about to start on it with a mallet before your suggestions.

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:02 pm

gorrie wrote:Muhuhuhuhu...

The towels slipped also, so as I had already scratched it I just went for mole grips straight on.

Take that .... !!

I know exactly how you feel!!!

VXJON had a similar problem recently and sent his off to get powdercoated....

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:23 pm

Well, after all that... the gear machanism is fine. Basically, it looks like it's the 2 front retaining bolts were just tightened a bit to much and were causing tension.

You know when you have an aluminium can... and you can make it click by pushing it in and it will pop out again. Well, I think this is what was happening here. If I moved the gear stick to the right it clicked, then left... click. Seems as though it was the floor clicking

So, I loosened off the bolts a little bit... noise was still there but not as bad. Took the bolts completely out, and no noise. As the spacer as metal, I thought a rubber washer on each side may help but didn't have any to hand...

Step forward an old welly boot and a stanley.

Placed under here along with the spacer again

both sides... gave all the moving bits a squirt with 3-in-1 while I had the cowling off.

At least if the noise comes back my mind is at rest that it is not a part of the mechanism catching.

Now away to sand down the whole gearknob.. might as well do the whole thing and get rid of that matt finish.

Cheers for your help guys.

Andy