E30 Zone

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:44 pm**

I've recently bought myself a 'new' gear knob, and have tentatively tried to remove the old one with NOOOO success at all.

All I can see is the potential for a black eye or similar in this situation

Does anyone have a fail - safe, pain - free technique for knob removal (

) that they would care to share?

I'm swapping a tatty facelift knob for a pristine pre - facelift knob, so there's nothing peculiar to take into consideration.

TIA

Fi

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:48 pm**

Fi, and i,m being deadly serious her, i don,t think there is an alternative,
other than to grip it fimly, and pull it off.

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:48 pm**

Nope, just "Pull", and don't use any lube

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:50 pm**

I'm sure it just twists & pulls off, that sounds like a line from a carry on film!

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:52 pm**

TPS wrote:I'm sure it just twists & pulls off.

I know there is no twisting involved - I fitted the present knob. I'm probably being a bit too gentle with it

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:54 pm**

They do pull stright off, you've not had your Weetabix today

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:57 pm**

Give it a good tug

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:59 pm**

Maybe a bit of a twist followed by a hefty tug will do it. It is probably reluctant to give up its grip of the metal rod.

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:01 pm**

Only thing that holds the knob on

is friction and the plastic web that locates it on the end of the gearstick,stop being a girl and give it a good pull!

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:04 pm**

I've never been told off for not giving a knob a good firm tug before

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:12 pm**

Swearing sometimes helps

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:14 pm**

Wear a full face protcetion...many a folk punched themselves in the hooter here

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:14 pm**

leeparkes wrote:Swearing sometimes helps

Absolutely.

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:16 pm**

Talk Dirty to it

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:16 pm**

So a welding mask, a colourful vocabulary, some wheetabix and I should be laughing. . . . .

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:22 pm**

Never hurt myself taking off the Gearknob, but when first removing a rear upper touring seat. The thing sprung back & smacked my chin,forcing my head to hit the roof! Had a headache for days.

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:57 pm**

mine just pulls off like a dream

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:02 pm**

318ichris wrote:mine just pulls off like a dream

Stop boasting and help the lady...

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:56 pm**

Heard numerous stories about how people have hurt themselves removing these. Black eyes, busted noses and one dude who smacked himself in the throat!

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:05 pm**

robbo86 wrote:Heard numerous stories about how people have hurt themselves removing these. Black eyes, busted noses and one dude who smacked himself in the throat!

Which, Mr86, is exactly why I have asked the question

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:10 pm**

Have you tried Rubbing it, it may take you a few minutes, but i'm sure you can "POP" it off that way

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:16 pm**

Rav335uk wrote:Have you tried Rubbing it, it may take you a few minutes, but i'm sure you can "POP" it off that way

Wow.

Great tip Rav.

Thanks soooo much. I'll try tomorrow when it's light.

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:43 pm**

I read on a website that it was a good idea to select 2nd gear before trying (gives a suitable angle while sat in drivers seat)- But that was a Euro website, so either select 4th or sit in the passeger seat..... Worked for me, but then I had't tried with it in neutral before........

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:48 pm**

Good tip there, Clipper. Thanks.

Posted: **Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:38 pm**

Fit an E36 shifter, the knobs seem to come off them much easier. Obviously this doesn't help your current predicament.

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:03 am**

willnz wrote:Isn't this a job for 'im inside???

'Him indoors hates cars; into his motorbikes big time.

My car, my knob (

) my problem, so to speak.

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:07 am**

I yanked my gear knob off the other day, and I ended up smacking myself in the face with it.

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:07 am**

remove the whole lever assembley with the knob and refit with a lovely new z3 shortshift and new knob? Kills two birds with one stone

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:01 am**

beemerbird wrote:So a welding mask, a colourful vocabulary, some wheetabix and I should be laughing. . . . .

Well, while a little Role play won,t hurt, it,s not strictly
necerssary, Fi .

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:15 am**

willnz wrote:If it is tatty, cut the sucka off with a grinder or give it a good thump on top with a large birmingham spanner, it should split and make removal easy.

Otherwise take a piece of timber about an inch thick and 3ft long, cut a slot in the one end just wide enough to fit around the shaft, grip the other end firmly, and whack it as close to the tunnel on the underside as possible with a suitable heavy birmingham spanner, this should transfer enough shock to the underside of the knob to pop it loose.

Tell 'im inside motorbikes are only for people who cant afford 4 tyres....

Thanks for the advice here, Will. I'll give it a liberal coat of abuse and report back!

Re: two tyres; he spends more on one rear tyre than I need to on all four corners of my car

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:39 am**

And the results are in! Put the car into fourth gear, as suggested by Clipper

, started prising with the old birmingham spanner / flat head screw driver combo (thanks Will etc) gave it a wiggle and a pull, and the thing came off really easily. I think that putting it into gear was a major factor, as it restricted movement.

Thanks for all help and advice given, chaps!

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:40 am**

beemerbird wrote:And the results are in! Put the car into fourth gear, as suggested by Clipper , started prising with the old birmingham spanner / flat head screw driver combo (thanks Will etc) gave it a wiggle and a pull, and the thing came off really easily. I think that putting it into gear was a major factor, as it restricted movement.

Thanks for all help and advice given, chaps!

Nice one Fi - now

Can i send the wife round for lessons?

E30 Zone

Gear knob removal tips required

Gear knob removal tips required

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