Trouble changing the Shifter Ball
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,598
Likes: 961
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
Trouble changing the Shifter Ball
I recently purchased a C5R shifter style handle. I just cannot get the pin to budge. I have used a pair of vice grips and wiggled then from side to side, but the pin will not budge. Actually, the vice grips are starting to simply remove a little metal of the pin each time I try to get it off.
Any ideas on how I can remove the pin. Should I spray a little WD40 on it?
Any ideas on how I can remove the pin. Should I spray a little WD40 on it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Apparently these pins were put in with a big variance of force!! Some seem to come out easy and others have a lot of difficulty.
Mine came out fairly easy. I used a pair of channel-lock pliers that, in the position I had them, provided a horizontal place on the bottom of the pliers to tap with a hammer. About four strong "taps" and it came out. Mostly, I did not want to damage the leather cover.
No penetrant for me, but I'm sure it would help. WD40 or whatever. Someone just posted using two needle nose vice grips and prying against the shift ****...it worked, but I'd think the **** would be damaged.
Others have tried screw drivers but that also sounds dangerous. It's fairly soft metal so it's easy to damage the pin itself too.
You might also try tapping it a bit from side to side and then do the pliers straight up thang.....plus the penetrant.
Good luck....everybody seems to do it differently.
Mine came out fairly easy. I used a pair of channel-lock pliers that, in the position I had them, provided a horizontal place on the bottom of the pliers to tap with a hammer. About four strong "taps" and it came out. Mostly, I did not want to damage the leather cover.
No penetrant for me, but I'm sure it would help. WD40 or whatever. Someone just posted using two needle nose vice grips and prying against the shift ****...it worked, but I'd think the **** would be damaged.
Others have tried screw drivers but that also sounds dangerous. It's fairly soft metal so it's easy to damage the pin itself too.
You might also try tapping it a bit from side to side and then do the pliers straight up thang.....plus the penetrant.
Good luck....everybody seems to do it differently.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Try this tech tip: https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=34&TopicID=1
I recently purchased a C5R shifter style handle. I just cannot get the pin to budge. I have used a pair of vice grips and wiggled then from side to side, but the pin will not budge. Actually, the vice grips are starting to simply remove a little metal of the pin each time I try to get it off.
Any ideas on how I can remove the pin. Should I spray a little WD40 on it?
Any ideas on how I can remove the pin. Should I spray a little WD40 on it?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
The hammer and vice grips tricked worked for me...
vice grips with the jaws front and back..
wiggle front to back and simultaneously pulling upwith left hand ( like a dentist extracting a tooth) while giving a sharp rap on passenger side of vice grip with a hammer...
vice grips with the jaws front and back..
wiggle front to back and simultaneously pulling upwith left hand ( like a dentist extracting a tooth) while giving a sharp rap on passenger side of vice grip with a hammer...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,788
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From: Winchester TN
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Hi TR6speed -
If find that if the key is really stuck in there, it is just as easy to remove the shifter and then work on the workbench.
I use the vice-grips / screwdriver / hammer method - and I prefer not to have to swing the hammer in the interior of the car.
The shifter can easily be removed with the **** and boot in place.
best regards -
mqqn
If find that if the key is really stuck in there, it is just as easy to remove the shifter and then work on the workbench.
I use the vice-grips / screwdriver / hammer method - and I prefer not to have to swing the hammer in the interior of the car.
The shifter can easily be removed with the **** and boot in place.
best regards -
mqqn
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,598
Likes: 961
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I got the pin out. WD40, then the tech tip link. Vice grips, small wood block wrapped in a soft cloth and screwdriver. First I sprayed a small amount of WD40 on the pin, next clamp on the vice grips. Placed the woodblock on the front of the stock shifter grip, screwdriver through vice grips and on wood block. Pull up on screwdriver forcing vice grips up and out popped the pin.
Thanks all. New C5R shifter handle installed looks great.
Thanks all. New C5R shifter handle installed looks great.
Last edited by BWF07; Aug 26, 2008 at 06:27 PM.
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Get the vice grips as tight as they will go, then tap up on the side of the grips with a hammer. The key in mine just popped out.
