Shift Knob Removal

[kdameron]

1992, Metro, 2 door, hatchback.

I have looked everywhere on how to remove the shift know and I have found nothing. I have turned, twisted, pulled pushed, and everything else you can think of to get the knob off. Does anyone have any suggestions!?!?!?!

[mustanger999]

If your vehicle is a standard stick, the just unscrew the knob. If it's never been taken off, it could be hard to turn.

[kdameron]

Thanks Mustanger999. I did try using some plyers on the knob but it started to rip into the rubber and wouldn't even budge! All other knobs have just unscrewed. That's why I posted the question.

[mustanger999]

Try putting a wash cloth or rag around your knob then use the pliers.

[kdameron]

I knew that!

[kdameron]

Well, I tried again last night and I got no where! It almost feels like I'm going to twist the gear shift stick and break something below! Thanks again for all of the help!

[Woodie83]

It unscrews in the normal anti-clockwise direction, but it's glued too. I've never gotten one off without destroying it. Try heating it up with a hairdryer, might soften the glue.

[DOCTORBILL]

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...

[kdameron]

Thanks guys! As soon as the weather gets warmer, I'm going to try it. It's a little cold out in the garage!

[kdameron]

Well guys, I ended up cutting the rubber know off of the stick. Underneath the stick was a plastic piece. I was able to get the plastic piece to twist but it's not twisting off! I can get it to turn, it just won't move up or down! I've even tried using the hammer hitting the plyers trick and it won't budge. I'm really concerned that I might mess something up below the shifter. Any other suggestions?

[DOCTORBILL]

You could run a sander over the plastic thingie to sand it down enough to
get it off.

Maybe a Butane Torch to heat the stick up by the KNOB (know?) and maybe
that would soften it enough to get it off - unless it is covering a "nut".

My shift lever is threaded at the top.

DoctorBill