SE Gear knob

[Lotus520]

I’m struggling to find either a new or secondhand gear knob, the leather one with gear layout in red. Lotusbits have a chrome round one, but personally I do not feel that chrome is the right finish for an Excel interior.
I could settle for the pear shaped one in wood, but can only find them with the lotus logo and in my opinion the lotus badge in the steering wheel is sufficient badging for the interior, also it would need work on the mounting boss.
I would be interested to hear what anyone else ended up doing.
PNM said they could make one in alloy and anodise it black which is an option, as is finding a wood turner and getting a mounting boss made

[Hawaiis0]

The red shift logo is being re-printed somewhere - cant recall where but will trawl. Therefore find something you like and fit a new gear logo.

Edit found on sjsports

[MetBlue]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394498124632

I fitted one of these 3 years ago. Other colours or chrome are available I believe.

Tony

[Lotus520]

I ended up ordering a NOS black leather Knob from the Toyota Supra along with the red logo from SJSportscars in case an original turns up in the future.
I had to order it from Japan, once it arrives I will post a picture up along with the part number as there are a few different versions available

[Lotus520]

My new knob turned up today, nothing incredible, but discreet and well made and it fits like a glove, nice feel too
Toyota part number 33504-14120-C1.
I’m now learning how to post photos

[Lotus520]

Www.www.www.www.www.

[Alan_M]

I’m now learning how to post photos

This might help - viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11571

[Marcus]

Just in case you need to know, the thread for the W58 gear lever is M12 x 1.25 extra fine thread Marcus

[Lotus520]

I’ve found a guy in Holland selling genuine TRD gear knobs at £30 each, they are black leather with red stitching and as they fit Supra’s I assume they will fit an Excel.
There are a couple of problems, they have an aluminum bezel at the base in silver, this could be anodised or painted black.
The TRD emblem on top, again in silver aluminum is slightly larger than the genuine gate map sticker from Lotus, so for getting a sticker made and some anodising you would have a pretty good match for the original nob, certainly the nearest I have seen.
I haven’t learnt to post pictures on here yet, so here is the ebay number 363581523418
I have PM’d Dwayne as I read about his nob problem, hopefully he may be able to post some pictures up

[AndyC]

I'm, a suspicious person by nature, this item in Amazon at c£15 delivered looks surprisingly similar even down to the stitching and how the top but one stitch pulls the "leather"

[Lotus520]

Well done, seems you’ve found the same thing cheaper.

[Dwaynem884]

Posting photos on behalf of Lotus520

Genuine Supra Gear Knob










eBay TRD knob modified to suit genuine Lotus insert

[rbgosling]

Posting photos on behalf of Lotus520

Could you not get the shift map better aligned with the stitching?

[Lotus520]

I just placed it on top to show dimensions, it’s not stuck

[Dwaynem884]

Here's some photo's of my SE gear knob. It has been through a few wars, it has snapped at some point and reglued back together (don't even want to know how they managed to snap it!)










I realise that I'm in a better position than most men, given that I actually have a knob, no matter the condition. I wouldn't mind replacing mine also but finding a warehouse full of hen's teeth seems more likely. I look at that photo on SJ's website of a NOS one with severe envy.

Anyhow, I'm toying with the idea of making them.

-The shift pattern being the hardest part imo to replicate has already been taken care of by SJ's it seems. (Limited supply of NOS or reproduced I don't know, but they are there.)

-The main body of the Knob is meant to be a true revolve, which can easily be reproduced on a lathe, out of nylon perhaps. (I can do this at work)

-The threaded part could also be lathed but if a common replacement was available that would be handy. (also can do this but if other options available I'd prefer it)

-I would then need an able leather man to trim the knob in black leather. (My leather man won't go near gear knobs)


If there was enough interest in getting them reproduced, I can look deeper into reverse engineering my own. Which means tearing it apart (my heart beats heavy at the thought of such a rare article)

Any advice to any of them points mentioned above would be greatly appreciated.

Dwayne