My '93 Metro came with some turned metal knob that a machinist had made.
Looked really nice - except for the fact that in winter is was the same temp
as the outside - sometimes 5° F !
If the sun was hitting it in summer, it would burn my hand....
So I obtained a large 3 Inch Wood Ball for Banisters, drilled it out for 1/2 inch
and stained and waxed it.
The Turned Metal Knob on the shift lever wouldn't turn...figured it was HOT
MELT glued on.
So I heated the Shift Shaft and the Metal Knob with a
Butane Torch.
After a while, the knob turned easily.
That much metal took heating for a while to get warm.
I wrapped the shaft with a cold wet washrag at the base so any heat going
down the shaft would be absorbed by the wet rag.
I applied Hot Melt Glue to the Stick Shaft, heated the shaft again and screwed
the Wood Ball onto the shaft and let it cool.
It won't move unless I warm the shaft again with the Butane Torch.
I love it. Large. Feels warm even in subzero weather.
Looks nice - like an old 1920's stick shift knob.
DoctorBill
PS - if you heat the
SHAFT under the knob, the heat will travel up the shaft into
the knob...but it might take some time. Wrap the bottom of the SHAFT with a wet rag.
Wear a leather work glove to turn the knob as it may get hot also !
Be careful not to set your dash or shift hood on fire...