Removing stuck shift lever knob

[wrndln]

I have a shift lever assembly that has a decent original knob on it. However, I can't remove it from the shaft. It is hard to get a good grip on the knob to try to turn it. I hate to heat the shaft as it might mess up the knob. Penetrating oil hasn't worked for me well on loosening parts in the past as well as heat does, but maybe if I soak it for a few weeks in penetrating oil, it might work. I don't think penetrating oil would damage the black knob, but I am not sure. Does anyone have a good way to get it off?
Rusty Nelson

[1930artdeco]

Maybe heat the shaft up but do it far enough away that the heat doesn't warp the knob?
Otherwise kroil it for a few days/weeks.

Mike

[JDupuis]

How about one of those rubber band wrenches. Won't mark the knob. Jeff

[wrndln]

JDupuis,
I never though of using a rubber band wrench. I have a couple of them, they are for larger diameter items, but the smaller one might work - thanks for the suggestion.
Rusty Nelson

[Phil Brown]

I've got an old piece of a thick leather belt that works good for things like that. Just wrap it around to cushion it from the teeth marks of your favorite wrench.
A little Kroil penetrating oil should help a lot as well.

[RawhideKid]

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Hey Rusty, if that fails, try holding the rod upside down, then heat from top down until about 4 inches from the ball, and as it cools lay a candle against the rod to let the wax drain down into the threads. Be sure to let it cool naturally, no aid.

Then use one of the belt wrenches.

[jw hash]

I had a original mushroom knob that was stuck pretty good. and I heated the shaft red hot about four inches from the knob three times letting the heat travel down the shaft and let it cool completely between each time. the knob came right off. I have used the wax method to some times it work good.

[glenn in camino]

Originally Posted by Phil Brown

I've got an old piece of a thick leather belt that works good for things like that. Just wrap it around to cushion it from the teeth marks of your favorite wrench.
A little Kroil penetrating oil should help a lot as well.

It may take a few days, but Kroil has always worked for me.
Glenn in Camino

[Tom Wesenberg]

I had a knob the same way. I used a rubber strap wrench, which gave a good grip, but it still wouldn't budge. I sprayed GIBBS on it and a week later I unscrewed it with my hand. I still can't figure that one out, as I've never seen such a change by just using GIBBS.

[marc silva]

I have removed a tight knob by wrapping a piece of leather around the knob like mentioned above. I then put a hose clamp around it, tightened the snot out of it, grabbed it with a big pair of channel lock pliers and presto came right off. Not chewing up the knob at all.The stick was out of the car and clamped in a vice. I don't know if I would want to torque to much on it in the trans. top though. I would hate to shear the little pins off the stick if the knob was really tight due to severe rust or for what ever made it that tight.

[1crosscut]

If you have the shift tower off perhaps placing the knob in boiling water for a while will loosen it up.

[eagle]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I had a knob the same way. I used a rubber strap wrench, which gave a good grip, but it still wouldn't budge. I sprayed GIBBS on it and a week later I unscrewed it with my hand. I still can't figure that one out, as I've never seen such a change by just using GIBBS.

I think its tough to beat Gibb's. It had done some amazing things for me.