917-style Shift Knobs

johndglynn · Post by **johndglynn** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:06 pm

Very cool, would sell bundles of them between here, IB and PP. You can get that old knob of yours off easy Lewis, it's all in the technique LOL

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:02 pm

What timbers are you using for these knobs James?

Mike.

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:14 pm

jamie wrote:I don't think there is - I read the factory ones are clouted onto the shaft with a mallet and held in place with a crimp. You can't get it off unless it has worked itself loose over time.

Mine is on a factory short-shift kit, which includes a new shifter.

By the way - just weighed one and they are 24g

Not quite true I have made a tool for just the job and it's in the factory manual takes the knob right off..nice and easy..

fourteener · Post by **fourteener** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:37 pm

jamie wrote:By the way - just weighed one and they are 24g

Not sure if this is true, but I read that the the knobs purpose was nothing to do with weight saving. The story goes the linkage transferred so much heat from the gearbox, wood was deemed the best material to insulate the pilots hand.

Bagsy one from the next batch please Jamie

Rico · Post by **Rico** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:30 pm

I would be interested in two if you decide on another batch.
I'm in the States though....

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:06 pm

Thanks Jamie

Arrived today

Very nice

.

Derek

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:49 pm

mycar wrote:What timbers are you using for these knobs James?

Mike.

You thinking of having a bash Mike?

mrg3.6 · Post by **mrg3.6** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:05 pm

Jamie,

Just got mine, very nice work even my wife's impressed

Thx

Martin

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:37 pm

sladey wrote: You thinking of having a bash Mike?

We`re a bit short on CNC machinery here at M.R. Designs.... Still coming to terms with the industrial revolution.

More likely to be a pole lathe with a whippy stick.

The woods look to be a mahogany (of sorts, you can`t really buy proper mahogany over the counter anymore

) and ash...... maybe. These would make for the perfect laminate and a very sturdy product.

When the topic of wooden gear knobs came up originally I recall talk of balsa being used as a weight saving.

But... fourteener makes a very good point, surely these were never used as a weight saving measure.... a gram here and 10 grams there isn`t going to make any difference to even the lightest of race cars .

Far more likely, wood was used for its insulating properties.I can imagine that everything gets very warm in the cockpit of a le Mans car after a few hours of screaming round the track.

Were the originals polished? I would imagine that an unfinished wooden knob would be best, not too slippy, not too grippy and it would develope a nice patina over time.

Balsa and mahogany do make for a lightweight sandwich but would most probably fall to pieces after not many laps.

Regards, Mike.

(Thoughts from the workshop)

tea boy · Post by **tea boy** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:53 pm

Put me on the list for the next batch, Jamie

abash914 · Post by **abash914** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:17 pm

Me father 'n I turned up an elongated knob (oo missus!!) in Beech for the 914. Lovely feel, but now 3 years on, has got a fab 'grained' feel to it. If there's sufficient interest, as I live on 't edge of the SW Forest I'd be able to 'gather' some Beech, or Willow, or I think we've got Ash here too....
AA

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:17 pm

mycar wrote:The woods look to be a mahogany (of sorts, you can`t really buy proper mahogany over the counter anymore ) and ash...... maybe. These would make for the perfect laminate and a very sturdy product.

Confirmed, wood pro! The knobs are Ash and some Mahogany variant.

Guys - pleased you like them. Mark, got the cheque, thanks. Will send yours out tomorrow.

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:36 pm

no worries so are we polising these? or leaving them to their natural look..

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:41 pm

That is a decision only you can make.

Northy · Post by **Northy** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:57 pm

Are you going to get any more done then Jamie? Seems like the demand is there...