Author Topic: Gear Knob Help Please (Read 11036 times)

Milford · « **on:** Mar 25, 2004, 04:04PM »

I bought an autotechnica/monza gearknob and im trying to get it on, the problem is that the knob wont fit over the gear stick with the rubber spacer on it. It will go over it without the rubber but the crews that you screw into the gear stick (or the rubber if it was there) only touch the metal. It will hold fairly firmly like this but i was driving and it began to come loose, so i had to pull over and put the old one back on.
can anyone think of a way to secure it more firmly without resorting to such things as liquid nails and/or bolts

jayjay · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 06:14PM »

dude , the screws are only meant to apply pressure around the metal gear stick .
if you rap abit of electric tape around the gear stick , the tighten the screw on it should hold a hell of alot better
hope it works mate
jayjay

Milford · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 08:01PM »

i know that they were meant to only apply pressure, but it doesnt work very well when the screw is pressing against metal, it loses grip pretty quickly
ill try that electrical tape idea, thanks for the help

RichTRX · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 08:14PM »

Nope. It doesn't work. I tried that exact method and the knob came off after 2 days (ANNOYING). I had the exact same problem as milford is having with MY autotechnica gear knob.

It really depends what type of gear knob you've bought. There's the cheaper type with a main body and a kind of alloy "hand plate" where your palm would go mostly:

or the more expensive type with a metal/wooden body which feels a lot more solid (I have used both types - the former broke after one day)

The cheaper version has a plastic fork design built into the top of it. Don't even bother using those rubber fittings, no matter which knob you've bought. None of them fit properly on the u12 gear stick. The cheap version will screw straight on to your gear stick by cutting a thread into the "forks" at the top. Try it, it works.

The more expensive knob is a little more difficult. To get it to fit properly, you'll need to redrill the hole at the top and, for best results, tap a thread into it with the correct pitch/diameter (I think it's 10x1.25) - you can pick up a tap&die set at any hardware shop for about $25 if you don't have access to one. NB: This also makes the knob sit lower, which is better.
After this, tighten up the little screws at the bottom, and it should be fine forever after. If you don't want to go to all this work though, I'm sure there must be a better way of doing it. Good luck champ

Milford · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 08:25PM »

mine looks similar to the top one but it wasnt really cheap ($40 from supercheap), if you look up the hole in the knob you see 4 bits of plastic angling into the centre of the hole at the top but it still will fit on. do you suggest i drill out these plastic bits to make the hole a consistant diameter?

RichTRX · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 08:32PM »

nope, don't drill them out. Those four prongs act as a thread. Simply push the knob onto the stick, push down and screw, and the gear stick's thread will cut its own thread into the 4 prongs. Don't press too hard or turn too hard at any stage as the shiny bit at the top can come off really easily, you can't glue it back on. You'd have to take it back.(Happened to me) Just be gentle and it will be great!!

Milford · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 08:36PM »

i may have already rooted those prongs, since my attempts at getting the knob over the rubber were rather inelegant, ill check it out tomorrow, thanks for your help.

noss · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 08:58PM »

i dont mean to sound rude, but unfortunately in the gear knob world $40 is cheap.

i spent $80 on my last one and i'm considering ditching it for a more expensive one again because of problems with it coming loose still.

Milford · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 25, 2004, 09:20PM »

ive never really looked into gear knob prices, i just thought 40 bucks was expensive because all of the other ones at supercheap cost less

imaspy · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 26, 2004, 12:18AM »

is it really that impossible to find a gearknob with a normal screw-on thread to suit the u12?

RichTRX · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 26, 2004, 11:38AM »

Quote from: imaspy on Mar 26, 2004, 12:18AM

is it really that impossible to find a gearknob with a normal screw-on thread to suit the u12?

probably not, I think some of the more expensive momo or isotta knobs have a specific threading, my knob was $50, so yes, cheap and had a universal thing. They're annoying but I guess that's just the way it is with cheapish stuff.

noss · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 26, 2004, 01:59PM »

if you like imaspy i can get you a blitz one or a greddy one or a nismo one.. they are all threaded perfect.

blitz are around $120-140
greddy are around $160-180
nismo range from $120 (leather) - 280 (genuine carbon fibre)

NZ_Pintara_TRX · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 27, 2004, 12:29AM »

try some lock tight

my one does not come loose any more

[JET-20T] · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 27, 2004, 11:11AM »

Quote from: noss on Mar 26, 2004, 01:59PM

if you like imaspy i can get you a blitz one or a greddy one or a nismo one.. they are all threaded perfect.

blitz are around $120-140
greddy are around $160-180
nismo range from $120 (leather) - 280 (genuine carbon fibre)

lolz.. i spent 30 bucks.. and ive had no problems... well except for the shitty monza sticker/badge that came off...

*drool* wen i grow up i wanna get a nismo one.... l

imaspy · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 27, 2004, 06:34PM »

thanks noss, i'll look at their websites and see if there's anything that boils me spuds

RichTRX · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 28, 2004, 01:37AM »

yeah my autotechnica badge that sits on top of my gear knob sort of "floats" around. It's a bit annoying. I won't buy autotechnica again. Too many problems.

noss · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 29, 2004, 03:22PM »

i have an autotechnica steering wheel.. its good.

autotechnica gearknobs and pedals are indeed utter poo.

[JET-20T] · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 30, 2004, 11:28PM »

meh.. i suppose u get wat u pay for...

weasel · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 31, 2004, 08:58PM »

i too have an autotechnica wheel and it's fine for me

can you get a leather nismo knob in red?

noss · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 31, 2004, 10:06PM »

no just black

RichTRX · « **Reply #20 on:** Apr 1, 2004, 02:22PM »

so the steering wheels are good? and the seats I've heard are ok for durability but I think they're a little uncomfy.

hmmmmmm I saw a nice looking isotta evoluzione white leather steering wheel today for sale in trash converters - they only wanted $129 for it (as opposted to $329 new. Should I buy it?

Jtas · « **Reply #21 on:** Apr 1, 2004, 02:54PM »

i hate the look of most white interiors, and especially white steering wheels and shift boots with a black or grey interior, but if you like it, get it. there are better things to spend your money on though...

RichTRX · « **Reply #22 on:** Apr 2, 2004, 02:34PM »

got it, it looks nice

Jtas · « **Reply #23 on:** Apr 2, 2004, 04:34PM »

get a pic of it and prove me wrong

, you wouldnt want to have dirty hands

RichTRX · « **Reply #24 on:** Apr 3, 2004, 01:31AM »

Quote

you wouldnt want to have dirty hands

2nd time I've read that in 5 minutes.

Yeah I want to invest in a digi camera not far down the track, maybe I can con my dad into getting one.

bilney · « **Reply #25 on:** Apr 6, 2004, 02:24AM »

to get the gear knob on, try cutting the rubber sleeve a little shorter, but be careful no to cut it too short, as it wont screw in properly, and then push down firmly on the gear knob and it will sit on there good, and tighten the screws really well and if it done right should be good. I had roblems with mine at first, then i cut the rubber shorter and now i have no problems at all.

RichTRX · « **Reply #26 on:** Apr 8, 2004, 12:08PM »

Quote from: TasR.X on Apr 2, 2004, 04:34PM

get a pic of it and prove me wrong , you wouldnt want to have dirty hands

Personally I don't think it's a matter of proving you wrong champ

Everyone has their own point of view and I have to admit I wasn't sure about a white wheel either but it's on there, it's an awesome steering wheel and it looks very nice to me. Strangely it makes the car feel more nimble like a cart (maybe coz it's smaller) even though it obviously isn't any more nimble. I still want more white or light colours to compliment it though. I've always wanted a silver-y looking shift boot to compliment my overall silver interior scheme, so I'll probably get one sooner or later. I also want white wheels (definite).

Jtas · « **Reply #27 on:** Apr 8, 2004, 12:19PM »

once again i chose the wrong wording, what i meant was get a pic and change my opinion. your right though who cares what anyone else thinks, its your car and your money. what have you done silver in your interior? ive done a few little pieces and i want to do more, i just dont have the time.

RichTRX · « **Reply #28 on:** Apr 8, 2004, 12:26PM »

hmmm I would post pictures but I don't have any...

-silver autotechnica shift knob
-silver door lock button flush mounts
-silver bottoms to front armrests
-silver door lever surrounds
-silver panel where the Power/Hold switch goes on auto models
-silver coin tray underneath the handbrake

-now have white isotta steering wheel
-future getting silver/white leather shift boot, white wheels, other white/silver stuff

Jtas · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 8, 2004, 12:28PM »

cool, have you thought of doing the plastic rectangle that the stock shift boot goes into, ive done it and it looks alright....

what was the topic?

oh yeah, gear knobs are great..