Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing cant remove gear knob

I purchased a wooden gear knob to replace the one on my 1994 4/4 ford zetek 1800 which looks to modern and plastic looking with the 5 gear numbers on top, the wooden one i purchased has a threded metal inner and looks as if it will be perfect. But i cant get the old one off ,there does not appear to be any grub screws i have asked at Melvin Rutter where i purchased it and i have asked at the local ford garage who suggested i molegrip the shaft and twist the knob hard which i tried, it moved a fraction but now its a bit loose but wont turn or twist off i have also removed the plastic cap from the top of the knob hoping to find a screw,but no luck .Can anybody advise.

If it's the same as mine... I have to undo the ring at the base of the knob (clockwise looking from above), which frees up the knob to unscrew. Beneath is all is a bush held onto the gear stick with three grub screws.

But mine is a 2012 Plus 4 so may be different.

It helps to read all of that in a Kenneth Williams voice :-)

On my year 2000 silver top zetec Mog, i had to damage the old gear knob gripping it so tightly to turn it to get it off so I think the advice on the mole grip is probably the way to go. id just keep trying and up the effort with some real contorted facial expressions - usually works

It has probably seized on the thread and could also be threadlocked as well

If I remember correctly I had to pull the old gear knob off, I straddled the transmission tunnel and gave it a sharp pull, it worked, just be careful not to hit yourself in the face with the gear knob as it comes away from the shaft, or propel yourself out of the car!!

Ian

When I saw the title I thought this was about to involve A&E.

It might still !

Hi,

I have fitted Librands' short Quick shifter a few months ago: a real benefit. The throws are much shorter and feel more precise. Furthermore you get the hand clearance from the dashboard you might have been missing with the old Sierra-Type poker.
If the plastic gear-knob won't come off, try to soak it in WD40. It may help you avoid too much facial contorsion. Mine went off instantly. (what did I say?)

Some of the Ford gear knobs are pushed on, and they are TIGHT after a few years, a twist and a pull will usually free them - but as said above be careful not to hit yourself as they can take a lot of effort to remove.