shift knob?

[love2hunt1993]

i have a 88 ranger 5 speed and i wanted to do something with the shifter but found that it is impossible to get the head off? anyone else have that problem and any sollutions???? please help

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My Ranger I had success with driving around in warm weather holding onto the shifter as much as possible. After awhile all it took was a good hard shift into second and I was holding the knob.

My choptop when I got it had evidence that a previous owner took a pipe wrench to the knob trying to get it off though and all he did was chew into it creating a roughened area that wasn't pleasant to grip. I tried heat, wacking it sharply with a mallet, and a number of other tricks to try to get it released with no luck. Finally I just took a hacksaw an cut down the center from the top till I hit metal then split it off with a cold chisel.

 

[snake]

That dern thing is glued on. There are several ways to knock it off, from squeezing the hell out of it and twisting with channel locks to slide- hammering it off. Never done it myself so not talking from experience. If no one else replies, try the tech library.

Edit- above post beat me to it...

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

remove the shifter boot bezel screws and then remove the shaft itself so you can put it in a vise. then you can take an appropriately sized oped end wrench and place it under the knob and strike it sharply with a hammer to help slide it off the shaft. worked good for me on my M50D but im not sure what trans you have.

 

[7.5L_STX]

i heated mine up with a heat gun and it popped right off...its just held on with glue.

 

[cocoasranger]

It's a press fit onto the splined end of the shifter and also has a heat activated glue holding it on the shaft. Warm up the knob slowly with a heat gun till it's quite warm, then tap it straight upwards and it should come off fairly easily. It's best if you remove the arm from the truck, but you may be able to get it off in place if done carefully.

 

[OilPatch197]

Mine always comes loose during summers with windows rolled up.

 

[racsan]

i took off the whole lever where it bolts to the trans shifter stub, took it in the house where i had a big pot of boiling water going, held it upside down with the knob in the boiling water for a few minutes, took it out and yankes it off the stem. (was wearing heavy leather welding gloves) now ive got a hurst and it has a threaded shaft, alot easier to change knobs, and a much better shifter.

 

[fangotango306]

use heat!!!!!!!!

 

[philzilla]

To get the shifter knob off on my 88 i drilled a hole through the knob and used a screw driver as a handle to twist and pull that sucker off.

 

[love2hunt1993]

so it sounds like heat is the way to go and i am able to twist it so with heat it should pop off sweet!!!!! thanks (new to the site and damn i love it!!!!!!!!)

 

[LearjetMinako]

Applying heat is the best method that I have heard. Mine just natutally came off after so many shifts. A few fist poundings and the knob went back on. And is still there.

 

[rangerbum]

I had to use some rediculous man-power because I wasnt smart enough to use heat.

I took my hands, locked my fingers with the knob between my palms, and twisted both ways, hit, and finally I hear a "SNAP". The hardened glue bond broke loose, and it popped off.

At first I thought the snap was my fingers. They felt broken.

 

[love2hunt1993]

ok and i guess befor i go and pull it off! the shifter wouldnt be threaded at all would it?

 

[MAKG]

i heated mine up with a heat gun and it popped right off...its just held on with glue.

This is exactly what the service manual tells you to do.

The WRONG thing is to get right over it and yank hard. One of two things will happen:

1. If you have a Ranger (and your face isn't in the way -- see #2), you'll throw it out the back window.

2. You'll whack yourself in the face. Or whatever other body part happens to be there.

When they give, they tend to give suddenly....