The Ford Barn

Neil Mylar LakewoodCA · 03-09-2022, 04:47 PM

I'm trying to remove an original gear shift knob from my gear shift, but it is stuck.
I've tried PB Blaster to loosen it, but it is still stuck.
I've been using an old towel and have been trying to loosen it by hand.

I don't want to use vice grips for fear of damaging the surface of the knob.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance,
Neil

jw hash · 03-09-2022, 04:54 PM

if you don`t care about the nickel on the shifter. take a torch and heat the shifter about 1" down from the knob and let it cool, sometimes it takes a couple times, you want the heat to work it way down into the knob,

dennis lumbert · 03-09-2022, 04:59 PM

What if you used a strap wrench to try and rotate the knob.They make them with a leather or vinyl covered strap and that should not damage the knob.

Big hammer · 03-09-2022, 05:38 PM

Go to the kitchen and get one of the grippy things you wife uses to open jars or tell a teenager he can’t remove it by hand

Redbird · 03-09-2022, 06:21 PM

Bighammer, I was just going to type in the same thing. Use channel locks over it to not scratch anything.

Big hammer · 03-09-2022, 09:45 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

With arthritic hands, thinking outside of the box helps, sometimes

Pete · 03-09-2022, 10:03 PM

Believe it or not it is possible to have a knob stuck so hard that no matter what you do, you will twist the end of the shift stick off or disintegrate the ball before it comes off.
I had one like this on a customer car once.
We used a strap wrench. It was absolutely not slipping or marking the ball but the ball was not moving so the owner said go for it and see what happens. The end of the stick twisted off. We drilled the piece out of the ball, re-cut the thread on the stick and sent him on his way.
By the way we had the stick on the bench and clamped in a gunsmith type barrel clamp.

Neil Mylar LakewoodCA · 03-09-2022, 11:30 PM

Thank you all for your suggestions. I chuckled and appreciated the good humor suggestions, as well.
I did remove it tonight. I first wrapped the knob with a velcro strap and then tried turning it with a huge pipe wrench. That did not work. The velcro did not seem to grip the knob.
Next, I wrapped the knob with velcro again and placed it in a vice. I then turned the shift mechanism by hand and it came free.
The knob is scratch free.

Thanks again,
Neil

katy · 03-10-2022, 11:17 AM

First time I've heard of using velcro for an anti-slip "gripper".

Fullraceflathead · 03-10-2022, 01:08 PM

I use an old thick leather belt for things like that

McMimmcs · 03-10-2022, 08:10 PM

[QUOTE=Big hammer;2111613]Go to the kitchen and get one of the grippy things you wife uses to open jars or tell a teenager he can’t remove it by hand

This was my favourite. Tell a teenager he can’t possibly remove it. His hands will hurt and his face will be red !

03-09-2022, 04:47 PM	#1
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakewood, CA Posts: 1,346	Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. I'm trying to remove an original gear shift knob from my gear shift, but it is stuck. I've tried PB Blaster to loosen it, but it is still stuck. I've been using an old towel and have been trying to loosen it by hand. I don't want to use vice grips for fear of damaging the surface of the knob. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance, Neil

03-09-2022, 04:54 PM	#2
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. if you don`t care about the nickel on the shifter. take a torch and heat the shifter about 1" down from the knob and let it cool, sometimes it takes a couple times, you want the heat to work it way down into the knob,

03-09-2022, 04:59 PM	#3
dennis lumbert Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 150	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. What if you used a strap wrench to try and rotate the knob.They make them with a leather or vinyl covered strap and that should not damage the knob.

03-09-2022, 05:38 PM	#4
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. Go to the kitchen and get one of the grippy things you wife uses to open jars or tell a teenager he can’t remove it by hand __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

03-09-2022, 06:21 PM	#5
Redbird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 535	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. Bighammer, I was just going to type in the same thing. Use channel locks over it to not scratch anything.

03-09-2022, 09:45 PM	#6
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) With arthritic hands, thinking outside of the box helps, sometimes __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

03-09-2022, 10:03 PM	#7
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,409	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. Believe it or not it is possible to have a knob stuck so hard that no matter what you do, you will twist the end of the shift stick off or disintegrate the ball before it comes off. I had one like this on a customer car once. We used a strap wrench. It was absolutely not slipping or marking the ball but the ball was not moving so the owner said go for it and see what happens. The end of the stick twisted off. We drilled the piece out of the ball, re-cut the thread on the stick and sent him on his way. By the way we had the stick on the bench and clamped in a gunsmith type barrel clamp.

03-09-2022, 11:30 PM	#8
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakewood, CA Posts: 1,346	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. Thank you all for your suggestions. I chuckled and appreciated the good humor suggestions, as well. I did remove it tonight. I first wrapped the knob with a velcro strap and then tried turning it with a huge pipe wrench. That did not work. The velcro did not seem to grip the knob. Next, I wrapped the knob with velcro again and placed it in a vice. I then turned the shift mechanism by hand and it came free. The knob is scratch free. Thanks again, Neil

03-10-2022, 11:17 AM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. First time I've heard of using velcro for an anti-slip "gripper". __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

03-10-2022, 01:08 PM	#10
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. I use an old thick leather belt for things like that __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

03-10-2022, 08:10 PM	#11
McMimmcs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan Posts: 2,296	Re: Need help removing gear shift knob without damaging it. [QUOTE=Big hammer;2111613]Go to the kitchen and get one of the grippy things you wife uses to open jars or tell a teenager he can’t remove it by hand This was my favourite. Tell a teenager he can’t possibly remove it. His hands will hurt and his face will be red !