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MG MGB Technical - Gear lever knob and nut

Does any one have any thoughts on how you get the nut off so that the gear knob can be removed or know what size socket or tool is used.
A Charman

Is this on a later car with the od switch in the knob or an early car with the locknut beneath the the knob? Since you refer to a socket, I am assuming that you have a later car. I believe the nut is 3/8" and you will need a deep socket to reach it. RAY
rjm RAY

The later (rubber bumper) cars do not use a hex nut to secure the inside of the gear shift knob. You remove the top section of the gear shift know (plastic) and you find a hollow cavity with a circular nut having a cross cut across the top. This is removed with a tool similar to that used to remove the firing pin of the old British Lee-Enfield rifle--a rod with a hole drilled in the center to fit over the gear stick and two projections on the lower end to engage the slots on the nut on either side of the gear shift. Some have reported using a pair of needle nosed pliers to remove the circular nut, but I suspect that this only works if the nut is not firmly tightened.

Les
Les Bengtson

Les - yes they do - at least in the UK! All the late knobs I have seen use a thin hex nut inside the knob, to remove the knob, first loosen the chromed collar under the knob downwards, then the nut inside the knob can be rotated using a suitable instrument - I usually use a small screwdriver to fiddle it off, you can use a long thin walled socket if you thread the switch wires through it.
Chris at Octarine Services

thanks for the input. Why is it that the simple jobs always work out difficult. Only wanted to replace a worn gaiter, will fiddle this weekend
A Charman

This thread was discussed between 07/02/2010 and 08/02/2010

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