W123 Auto Shifter

[Demothen]

Has anyone tried removing the shift knob from a W123 automatic shifter? I know the knob is permanently attached to the metal shaft, but presumably it could be cut off. I'm curious what the results look like after doing this. I bought a small wood lathe recently and was thinking about making a wooden shifter out of some zebrano or an interesting chunk of burlwood. I know there's some available already, but they won't match my custom stained zebrano. I'm thinking I might be able to cut threads or even rings into the metal, then epoxy a new knob on.

I would also be interested to see if anyone knows of other models of benzes with compatible shifters, so I might have better luck finding cores at the junkyard.

Thanks!

[BirthdayBenz]

I've a shift knob that attaches via allen screws at the base. This is the way most universal aftermarket ones attach. It'd probably be less work to fashion something in this manner than to cut threads into the steel shaft of the shifter.



The shifter in the pic is on a manual.

[Rogviler]

Not a stock one, but I bought one with a wood knob and the finish started cracking immediately so I broke the wood off. Under that particular one it was just the metal shaft with two tabs to help hold the knob on. I found a different knob I liked and epoxied it on. Also cut the shaft shorter so I could put CDs in while it's still in park.

The stock one may or may not be the same, but I don't think you'll have any trouble.

-Rog

[BillGrissom]

You probably refer to the after-market knob of burlwood. I saw it yesterday on rock for ~$95 (too rich for me). If you find a web-site for it, they may have on-line instructions. Haven't done so, but I thought the factory knob just unscrews.

[Demothen]

Thanks guys. I was under the impression that the aftermarket ones came with the entire shaft as well, since the auto shifter was all one unit, but I might be mistaken.

A set screw makes way more sense, and it's something I could probably machine a collar for pretty easily at a community workshop nearby with a metal lathe.
I'll keep you guys posted on what I come up with. I've got an idea about doing an off-center turning to make a more contoured shape like the OE auto shifter has. This is all dependent on me getting the windshield reinstalled in my car so I can clear out room in the workshop to set up the wood lathe.