Removing the Gear Knob

[MGMoore]

I want to remove the gear knob to repair the gaiter, I’ve found and removed the tiny grub screw and believe the Gear Knob should unscrew, but it will not move! It is a very early model from 1989, any ideas please? Thanks Mark

[Blaster]

Mine was just screwed on.

[TorqueHorse]

Mine was tight too, but finally came off. Try to use the metal collar on the bottom of the knob and not the actual leather knob to twist. Try some vice grips, provided you protect the metal collar surface, to gain leverage.

[MGMoore]

Thanks both, masking tape on the metal to protect it and grips removed it, now to stitch in some leather on the inside of the gaiter to repair where it has split open at the top.

[chrism]

Yep, I've found that its always useful to see stuff dismantled before having a go at your own.

HJ2 recycled his Lotus 'bling' gear-knob my way recently (for my '90SE) and I'm grateful that he generously found the time to lead me like a child through the dismantling process.

Needless to say I got a curved ball since the black top part confusingly separated away from the insert and, honestly, that infernal grub screw (mentioned in sec FF.5 p340 of the manual) was covered by 32years worth of 'grub', and really well-camouflaged...

The process was completed just in time for Christmas Day, so she got to proudly wear her bling - which has enabled a 32years-mature little silver old lady with yellow undies feel like a teenager again - over the festive season.

I hope my trauma, H-J's generosity and these pics help to smooth the path of any fellow m100 'muckers' venturing into this possible quagmire...

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I'm grateful, too, that imo the new gearknob seems to 'fit' the interior. Another bonus is that it sits nearly 1/2" lower, so hysteria turning to smug (as is often the case with these?) has been bridged, I think.

Happy New Year to fellow sufferers...

[HJ2]

Looks ACE!

[chrism]

ps oops I forgot to mention that after the grub-screw is loosened (you can see where it contacted black part of the stick) then the black gearknob - and usually it's insert - simply screw off the stick...

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I'm led to believe that the thread is universal and some aftermarket gearknobs can screw back on. H-J's gearknob had 3 grub-screws to fix it to the stick instead, meaning it could be adjusted for height I suppose...