How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800

Joe-Ker · 9th March 2011, 01:50

My 12yr old 800's gear knob is very worn out and its small to hold.

I got a nice meaty gearknob from a friend (rejected prototype of an as yet unreleased vehicle

). I want to fit it but am unable to remove my old knob. It refuses to leave its resting place for more than a decade.

How can i remove the knob without breaking it, as i am not sure if the new one will fit, and if it doesnt i have to go back to the old knob. Tried twisting with all my might but it did not budge. Is it safe to get a bodybuilder friend of mine to try his strength on it? will the applied torque affect the gear box in any way?

Please help. I really love the design of the new knob even though it shows a non exixtent 5th gear.

asdfvinay · 9th March 2011, 01:58

How about applying some kerosene/petrol at the edge of gear knob? Ya, the kerosene will go down the rod, but a small quantity should be sucked in by the knob due to capillarity. Or wind a cotton thread around the bottom of the know and put a few drops of kerosene on the thread. Kerosene being very thin, the knob should suck some kerosene and loose its grip on the rod a bit.

I think any more pressure than what you have applied may damage the knob.

rg_chn · 9th March 2011, 02:05

Joe-Ker - have you tried using WD-40? If that doesn't work, I think it's safe to ask your friend. Shouldn't break. And no, twisting the gear knob will not affect the gear box.

Hashim · 9th March 2011, 09:13

Ask your bodybuilder friends and if even they fail, head over to any roadside mechanic and they will be open it as they know lots of jugaad to open any jammed things in car. If you have one of those big adjustable wrench (used by plumbers mostly yo open GI pipe joints etc.) wrap cloth around knob so that it don't get damaged by teeth of wrench then use it to open.

Joe-Ker · 9th March 2011, 12:05

Thanks for the ideas. I am going to try the kerosene idea first as its the easiest. Lets see what it does.

My friend is the last option as i dont want him wrenching the lever off.

Roadside mechanics wil get it done i am sure but they have no regard for scratches in the trim or any other components. I cringe every time they handle the car or parts roughly. *** guys baby the car(at least in front of you) but they are not half as knowledgeable.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 9th March 2011, 12:30

Give it the "hot and cold" treatment.

Get an hair dryer; blow it on the gear knob. The knob will expand, without breaking.

Find a small block of ice, hold it on the metal part of the gear lever. The metal will shrink due to cold. (this should start first - the cold needs to reach the area under the knob).

Now do the twisting and turning.

Joe-Ker · 13th March 2011, 00:59

I have successfully removed the gear kno using the kerosene treatment. Now the gear height has increased by around 4cm and the new knob is way heavier. It makes the shifting effort required delightfully minimal but the throw and vagueness of the gearshift increased. now the gear is nearer to the steering and falls to hand easily.

am lovin it!
My M800 now has markings for 6 forward gears

Thanks everyone for the suggestions

sumeethaldankar · 13th March 2011, 21:31

Hi,
How about some pics of the gear knob.

Joe-Ker · 14th March 2011, 02:18

I do not know if that would be approppriate as the knob is a prototype for a premium HCV. I wouldnt want their designs to go out.

All of you guys have given good suggestions and I really want to post pics but that would be being disloyal to my friend

. Once released maybe i can post some snaps.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 14th March 2011, 10:44

Ok, that is a promise, then?

Joe-Ker · 29th March 2011, 21:48

promise

.
now thinking of adding boric acid in the gearbox too to smoothen the shifts and to reduce the impact of the longer lever on components

9th March 2011, 01:50	#1
Joe-Ker BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: KL41-MH14-TN14 Posts: 98 Thanked: 49 Times	How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 My 12yr old 800's gear knob is very worn out and its small to hold. I got a nice meaty gearknob from a friend (rejected prototype of an as yet unreleased vehicle ). I want to fit it but am unable to remove my old knob. It refuses to leave its resting place for more than a decade. How can i remove the knob without breaking it, as i am not sure if the new one will fit, and if it doesnt i have to go back to the old knob. Tried twisting with all my might but it did not budge. Is it safe to get a bodybuilder friend of mine to try his strength on it? will the applied torque affect the gear box in any way? Please help. I really love the design of the new knob even though it shows a non exixtent 5th gear. Last edited by Joe-Ker : 9th March 2011 at 02:06.
	() Thanks

9th March 2011, 01:58	#2
asdfvinay BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Hyd Posts: 243 Thanked: 51 Times	Re: How to remove thr gear knob from an M800 How about applying some kerosene/petrol at the edge of gear knob? Ya, the kerosene will go down the rod, but a small quantity should be sucked in by the knob due to capillarity. Or wind a cotton thread around the bottom of the know and put a few drops of kerosene on the thread. Kerosene being very thin, the knob should suck some kerosene and loose its grip on the rod a bit. I think any more pressure than what you have applied may damage the knob.
	() Thanks

9th March 2011, 02:05	#3
rg_chn BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: K.S.A Posts: 343 Thanked: 3 Times	Re: How to remove thr gear knob from an M800 Joe-Ker - have you tried using WD-40? If that doesn't work, I think it's safe to ask your friend. Shouldn't break. And no, twisting the gear knob will not affect the gear box.
	() Thanks

9th March 2011, 09:13	#4
Hashim BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aligarh Posts: 449 Thanked: 49 Times View My Garage	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 Ask your bodybuilder friends and if even they fail, head over to any roadside mechanic and they will be open it as they know lots of jugaad to open any jammed things in car. If you have one of those big adjustable wrench (used by plumbers mostly yo open GI pipe joints etc.) wrap cloth around knob so that it don't get damaged by teeth of wrench then use it to open.
	() Thanks

9th March 2011, 12:05	#5
Joe-Ker BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: KL41-MH14-TN14 Posts: 98 Thanked: 49 Times	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 Thanks for the ideas. I am going to try the kerosene idea first as its the easiest. Lets see what it does. My friend is the last option as i dont want him wrenching the lever off. Roadside mechanics wil get it done i am sure but they have no regard for scratches in the trim or any other components. I cringe every time they handle the car or parts roughly. *** guys baby the car(at least in front of you) but they are not half as knowledgeable. Last edited by Joe-Ker : 9th March 2011 at 12:11.
	() Thanks

9th March 2011, 12:30	#6
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,541 Thanked: 755 Times	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 Give it the "hot and cold" treatment. Get an hair dryer; blow it on the gear knob. The knob will expand, without breaking. Find a small block of ice, hold it on the metal part of the gear lever. The metal will shrink due to cold. (this should start first - the cold needs to reach the area under the knob). Now do the twisting and turning.
	() Thanks

13th March 2011, 00:59	#7
Joe-Ker BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: KL41-MH14-TN14 Posts: 98 Thanked: 49 Times	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 I have successfully removed the gear kno using the kerosene treatment. Now the gear height has increased by around 4cm and the new knob is way heavier. It makes the shifting effort required delightfully minimal but the throw and vagueness of the gearshift increased. now the gear is nearer to the steering and falls to hand easily. am lovin it! My M800 now has markings for 6 forward gears Thanks everyone for the suggestions
	() Thanks

13th March 2011, 21:31	#8
sumeethaldankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,990 Thanked: 3,445 Times View My Garage	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 Hi, How about some pics of the gear knob.
	() Thanks

14th March 2011, 02:18	#9
Joe-Ker BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: KL41-MH14-TN14 Posts: 98 Thanked: 49 Times	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 I do not know if that would be approppriate as the knob is a prototype for a premium HCV. I wouldnt want their designs to go out. All of you guys have given good suggestions and I really want to post pics but that would be being disloyal to my friend. Once released maybe i can post some snaps.
	() Thanks

14th March 2011, 10:44	#10
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,541 Thanked: 755 Times	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 Ok, that is a promise, then?
	() Thanks

29th March 2011, 21:48	#11
Joe-Ker BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: KL41-MH14-TN14 Posts: 98 Thanked: 49 Times	Re: How to remove stuck gear knob from an M800 promise. now thinking of adding boric acid in the gearbox too to smoothen the shifts and to reduce the impact of the longer lever on components
	() Thanks