11 replies to this topic

[happyhacker]

My 1980 mini Cooper has a new gear Knob but is a bit loose. Needs a bit more rubber really. Anyone ideas about jamming it on tighter so it doesn't come off in my hand at the wrong moment?

 

Thanks.

[croc7]

My 1980 mini Cooper has a new gear Knob but is a bit loose. Needs a bit more rubber really. Anyone ideas about jamming it on tighter so it doesn't come off in my hand at the wrong moment?

 

Thanks.

Have you considered threading a nut on the gearshift lever first, then fitting the knob?  Tighten the nut against the knob, basically a becoming jamnut, this is dependent on the threads inside the knob being in good shape.

Edited by croc7, 26 December 2020 - 12:45 AM.

[nicklouse]

The thread in many gear knobs is not actually a thread but just a rubber insert.

 

you could fill the hole with some reinforced filler material and then drill and cut a thread (or fit a threaded insert) and then use a lock nut.

[Steam]

I normally remove the original rubber i sert and machine a nylon insert to fit the gear knob and make a thread to suit the shift lever but make it a tight interference fit, then it will screw on but not wobble slip or undo. The thread on the stick is 5/16 whit / unc from memory.

[happyhacker]

Thanks all, a solution in there I'm sure.

[surfblue]

Sikaflex inside it and screw it back on. When it sets you'll have no further issues with it coming off!

[Maccmike8]

Sikaflex is incredible stuff.

[MiniBGT]

Which Sikaflex?  There seem to be a number of options.

[Maccmike8]

EBT.

[Bobbins]

Which Sikaflex?  There seem to be a number of options.

Plenty will work, 221 ideal to have around for other sealing jobs as well. Tigerseal will work as well.

[humph]

How about wrapping some plumber’s ptfe tape around it a few times. Less messy than sealant.

[imack]

I dug the rubber out of my original bakerlite mk1 type gear lever knob around 30 years ago, filled it with body filler and pushed it onto the gear lever. It remained on there until about 4 years ago when I replaced the original lever with a KAD short shift one. Gear knob screwed off ok but some of the body filler crumbled on removal, nothing a bit of araldite couldn't sort out. Can't get the bloody thing off now!