Gear shift knob

[asesso]

This is probably another dumb question from a new owner, but I need to change my shifter leather gaiter since it is torn. My problem is I cannot get the shifter knob off. I thought it would just unscrew but it will not budge. Is there a trick to removing it, I don't want to damage anything by using too much force

Art

I forgot to mention I have a 1986 Lotus Esprit turbo

Art

[Mesprit87]

Hi Art,

It just unscrews right out and the threads are the usual counter clock wise.

I suggest some kind of strap wrench with some protection where the metal part of the tool meets the wood.

Good luck.

[Alan Paterson]

Or it might have been glued on by a previous owner if they'd had problems with it before.

Alan

[slewthy]

No hidden little grub screw added is there?

[molemot]

Often a lock nut underneath the knob...

[asesso]

No lock nut or grub screw, can't see any sign of glue but I guess it is possible

Art

[The Veg]

My '86 has two different threaded pieces of metal inside the knob- one anchored in the wood, the other merely inside the wood but not attached. This second piece seems to serve as a locknut, and in fact has a slot across it so that a g-wrench or similar tool could probably manipulate it. I'm with Luc on this one; get a really good grip with something soft, and put some good torque on it.

[DrieStone]

As a note, to replace the shift boot (I assume that's what you're talking about when you say "leather gaiter" you have to disassemble the HVAC too. I struggled for a while with this (and actually ended up destroying both the display and the knobs), because the PO had glued them on (because they were cracked apparently).

I made notes on replacing the boot and disassembly at http://esprit.driestone.com/index.php?pagename=Esprit.GearKnob