Shift Knob Rusted On Shifter

[Ford1931]

I have a very nice early mushroom style shift knob that is rusted to the shift tower. I have turned it upside down in a vise and have been soaking it often with the acetone, transmission fluid 50 50 mix. I even tried heating the shift tower. I have tried turning it with a band clamp wrench. I am trying to be careful as I do not want to break the knob. Anyone found anything else to work? As a last resort, I could probably cut the tower drill and re tap it.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by Ford1931

I have a very nice early mushroom style shift knob that is rusted to the shift tower. I have turned it upside down in a vise and have been soaking it often with the acetone, transmission fluid 50 50 mix. I even tried heating the shift tower. I have tried turning it with a band clamp wrench. I am trying to be careful as I do not want to break the knob. Anyone found anything else to work? As a last resort, I could probably cut the tower drill and re tap it.

Just went thru same situation recently. Soaked the knob repeatedly and let it sit in sunny socal sun. Twisted back/forth , by hand, nothing for long time...then started to move. Soaked then for another month, then just when I was about to use 'bigger hammer' , it gave in/came loose. Beautiful onyx (?) with solid threaded brass base. Figured someone would appreciate it..if I could/would get it off. Ha, set it aside and forgot about it..till you came along,eh ! NEVER GIVE UP !!

[Tom Wesenberg]

About 5 years ago I had the same thing with a mushroom knob. Strap wrench wouldn't budge it, so I sprayed some Gibbs on it and set it aside. A week later I unscrewed it with my hand. I still can't believe it worked so well. Nothing before or after has had such a complete turn around like that. Gibbs and Kroil always help. but it's usually still quite a fight.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

About 5 years ago I had the same thing with a mushroom knob. Strap wrench wouldn't budge it, so I sprayed some Gibbs on it and set it aside. A week later I unscrewed it with my hand. I still can't believe it worked so well. Nothing before or after has had such a complete turn around like that. Gibbs and Kroil always help. but it's usually still quite a fight.

Meybe sumone loosened it fer you whin u were'nt lookin'---HA HA HA HA HA---Buster T.

[28ACoupe]

PB Blast also works well for projects like this.

Don't use WD-40, especially if you live anywhere near either an ocean or where they salt the roads or you will make it worse.

[Russ/40]

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Originally Posted by 28ACoupe

PB Blast also works well for projects like this.

Don't use WD-40, especially if you live anywhere near either an ocean or where they salt the roads or you will make it worse.

I'm really puzzled by your comment. How does Wd40 make it worse? No sarcasm here, I'm really curious.

[BCCHOPIT]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

I'm really puzzled by your comment. How does Wd40 make it worse? No sarcasm here, I'm really curious.

X2 on that one...
But I think I would use just a little Sarcasm :-))
So yes please tell us more

[mot]

try soaking wd 40 on some pot metal.like a door cylinder or pop out
it will destroy it
i threw out all my wd 40
its for water displacement
i know some have good results with it,but after ruining a perfectly good pop out and door cylinder
no thanks

[mass A man]

If you like your shiftknob, you can keep your shiftknob, but don't let this happen to you.

[smurph]

Try the Kroil. The stuff works like magic! Let it soak in for a while and repeat the process if necessary. Might do it for you.

[Russ/40]

Originally Posted by mot

try soaking wd 40 on some pot metal.like a door cylinder or pop out
it will destroy it
i threw out all my wd 40
its for water displacement
i know some have good results with it,but after ruining a perfectly good pop out and door cylinder
no thanks

How does it destroy it. Dissolve the metal or ???????? Explain, and over what length of time was necessary to cause this??

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

How does it destroy it. Dissolve the metal or ???????? Explain, and over what length of time was necessary to cause this??

From what I've heard it can make the potmetal swell. I had some bolts in a plastic container, and after I sprayed some WD-40 on them to prevent rust, the plastic container warped out of shape so the lid no longer fits.

About 12 years ago I discovered WD-40 makes an excellent remover for price stickers and the goo it leaves behind. It also removes felt tip markers black ink from plastic. I also use it to protect bare metal on modern cars, such as the alternator, tranny, throttle linkage, etc. If I spray these parts about once a year they stay pretty nice looking. Without the spray the road salt mist will do a number on them.

[28ACoupe]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

How does it destroy it. Dissolve the metal or ???????? Explain, and over what length of time was necessary to cause this??

WD-40 and salty, wet air will actually promote the oxidation of metals of all kinds. I.E. Rust.

Sure, it will break parts free for a while, but then a day or so later, you are back where you started from.

You won't find any old timers down on docks by the ocean with WD-40 anywhere on their boats. They usually use either 3 in 1, Kroil, or PB Blast specifically for this reason.

[Ford1931]

The knob finally came off without breaking. I soaked (submerged) the entire knob in the acetone transmission fluid mix for about a week. I then locked the knob between two, two by four pieces of wood and tightened the vise just enough so the knob would not slip when I put a vise grips on the shift tower. I rocked it back and forth and it finally started to move. I checked to make sure the knob was not getting soft from the solution, but seemed to be fine. Hope this helps someone else with the same problem.

[28ACoupe]

Good job!

Be sure to clean up the threads before you put it back together.