The Ford Barn

jak · 08-10-2021, 09:00 AM

Has anybody successfully figured out a way to remove an original choke rod knob from the shaft? I recently purchased a bunch of choke rods but the rods are all bent and pitted. If I can get the knobs removed making the replacement rod is easy. Just looking for suggestions.

wrndln · 08-10-2021, 09:08 AM

I believe the knobs are permately molded to the shafts. The only way I know to reuse the knobs is to cut off the shaft directly below the knob and then drill the old shaft out starting with a small bit and increasing the bit sizes until the new shaft fits in the knob hole. You can then use J-B Weld to permately to attach the knob to the new shaft. The knob is relatively soft metal so it is easy to drill the knob accidentally.
Rusty Nelson

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 08-10-2021, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jak

Has anybody successfully figured out a way to remove an original choke rod knob from the shaft? I recently purchased a bunch of choke rods but the rods are all bent and pitted. If I can get the knobs removed making the replacement rod is easy. Just looking for suggestions.

Jeff, I tried just as you are suggesting and like Rusty said, they were evidently cast onto the rod during manufacturing. I had thought about using my lathe with a modified collet to hold (clamp) the choke rod knob, and use the steady rest to locate it while I was clamping it. Then I was going to try to part the rod at the knob and drill the remaining portion of the rod, ...but I just gave up on the idea and lost interest.

To restore what you do have, just polish the knob then dip it in the liquid wire insulator coating stuff to encapsulate the knob. If you have some pits or wear, some low-temp solder with a torch will fill them. Use a drill motor to spin the rod and level the solder with a file. Then have them barrel dipped in a Cad tank.

jak · 08-11-2021, 06:43 AM

Thank you everybody for your input. I think this is beyond my skill set, and I'm not sure if the rods are worth saving or not for all of the work involved. Alex and I are not doing a fine point car by any imagination but we have tried to use as many original parts as possible. and to be honest if he liked the look of a '28 part better than than the '31 part that should have been on the car than that was what was put on the car. He really likes the look of the early '28 teardrop choke rod vs the later style so that is why I was asking. well back to painting the doors and body.

Ray64 · 08-11-2021, 08:16 AM

The knob on my 30 coupe has threads on it and the knob just turns on. Maybe a reproduction huh?

midgetracer · 08-11-2021, 08:24 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray64

The knob on my 30 coupe has threads on it and the knob just turns on. Maybe a reproduction huh?

Definitely a reproduction.

Bob Bidonde · 08-11-2021, 08:25 AM

I have a choke rod with a screw-on knob and it looks to an original.

Neil Wilson · 08-11-2021, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jak

Has anybody successfully figured out a way to remove an original choke rod knob from the shaft? I recently purchased a bunch of choke rods but the rods are all bent and pitted. If I can get the knobs removed making the replacement rod is easy. Just looking for suggestions.

Does it make any since to cut the rod off below the knob, make a new rod to the correct length and then weld/finish the rod? That way, one does not have to deal with removing the knob from the rod.

katy · 08-11-2021, 09:48 AM

Can you not straighten one or more of the bent rods?

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 08-11-2021, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jak

Thank you everybody for your input. I think this is beyond my skill set, and I'm not sure if the rods are worth saving or not for all of the work involved. Alex and I are not doing a fine point car by any imagination but we have tried to use as many original parts as possible. and to be honest if he liked the look of a '28 part better than than the '31 part that should have been on the car than that was what was put on the car. He really likes the look of the early '28 teardrop choke rod vs the later style so that is why I was asking. well back to painting the doors and body.

First, I'm not so sure about that, ...and second, where is Grandpa in all of this choke rod stuff? He was/is the master restorer in his own right and in the perfect world needs to be passing his skills on to young Alex!!

.
.

Gene F · 08-11-2021, 06:13 PM

My experience is different. (March 1928). Put the rod in a vice, with just enough slack around the rod so that it slide up and down through the jaws easily, yet the jaws are close. Get down and pull the rod up, and then jerk it down. Knob comes off. You can "tap" it back on with a little JB weld in it.

08-10-2021, 09:00 AM	#1
jak Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 320	Removing a Choke Rod Knob Has anybody successfully figured out a way to remove an original choke rod knob from the shaft? I recently purchased a bunch of choke rods but the rods are all bent and pitted. If I can get the knobs removed making the replacement rod is easy. Just looking for suggestions.

08-10-2021, 09:08 AM	#2
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,297	Re: Removing a Choke Rod Knob I believe the knobs are permately molded to the shafts. The only way I know to reuse the knobs is to cut off the shaft directly below the knob and then drill the old shaft out starting with a small bit and increasing the bit sizes until the new shaft fits in the knob hole. You can then use J-B Weld to permately to attach the knob to the new shaft. The knob is relatively soft metal so it is easy to drill the knob accidentally. Rusty Nelson

08-11-2021, 06:43 AM	#4
jak Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 320	Re: Removing a Choke Rod Knob Thank you everybody for your input. I think this is beyond my skill set, and I'm not sure if the rods are worth saving or not for all of the work involved. Alex and I are not doing a fine point car by any imagination but we have tried to use as many original parts as possible. and to be honest if he liked the look of a '28 part better than than the '31 part that should have been on the car than that was what was put on the car. He really likes the look of the early '28 teardrop choke rod vs the later style so that is why I was asking. well back to painting the doors and body.

08-11-2021, 08:16 AM	#5
Ray64 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grafton,OHIO Posts: 755	Re: Removing a Choke Rod Knob The knob on my 30 coupe has threads on it and the knob just turns on. Maybe a reproduction huh?

08-11-2021, 08:25 AM	#7
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,113	Re: Removing a Choke Rod Knob I have a choke rod with a screw-on knob and it looks to an original. __________________ Bob Bidonde

08-11-2021, 09:48 AM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,715	Re: Removing a Choke Rod Knob Can you not straighten one or more of the bent rods? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

08-11-2021, 06:13 PM	#11
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,476	Re: Removing a Choke Rod Knob My experience is different. (March 1928). Put the rod in a vice, with just enough slack around the rod so that it slide up and down through the jaws easily, yet the jaws are close. Get down and pull the rod up, and then jerk it down. Knob comes off. You can "tap" it back on with a little JB weld in it.