New shift knob

[rleete]

I made this today - in the basement, as it's far too humid to work outside.

I started with a 2" trailer ball; old, rusty and beat up.  Cut off the flange and nut, then chucked it in the lathe.  Using files, I cleaned up the outside.  Then, I drilled, bored and tapped the hole in the end.  That got me to the stage shown in the first pic.

Next, I made the aluminum mandrel, and mounted the ball on that.  Using a carbide bit, I slowly took off the neck and rounded it to match.  I made an adapter (polypro) to match the shifter in the car.  Then I sanded.  And sanded.  And sanded some more.  Finally, a bit of a polish on the buffing wheel.  Hard to tell, but it's nearly a mirror finish.








Weighs in at 15.6 oz with the adapter.  I'm going to give it a go this evening, and see how I like it.

[Egbert]

: )

[Gyrene]

I'm assuming that the hole does not go all the way through?

[Babra]

You'll get fingerprints on it if you use it. 

[stoat]

You're telling me, that in the very recent past, rleete shined his own knob? I thought this was a family forum, Joe.

[rleete]

I'm assuming that the hole does not go all the way through?

No, not quite.  Knob is a hair under 1.75" after filing, and the hole is 1.5" deep.  The top is rounded and polished to blend.  Very much like a Voodoo knob, only steel.

As to fingerprints/corrosion I have considered cold bluing, but I'm not sure that will hold up, either.  The boss said I can nickel flash it if I want.  A hacky sack is about the right size for a cover.

Tried it last night.  Size is perfect, but I think it's a little heavy.  You have to use a light touch to prevent slamming it into gear.  Not sure the bushings in the turret will hold up to this.

[Sasquatch]

Tried it last night.  Size is perfect, but I think it's a little heavy.  You have to use a light touch to prevent slamming it into gear.  Not sure the bushings in the turret will hold up to this.

Use titanium next time.

 

Michael