Need gear shift knob threaded insert

Neil Mylar LakewoodCA

Neil Mylar LakewoodCA

Well-known member
Over a year ago I needed a threaded insert for a gear shift knob. I was fortunate enough to find a company who sold the exact combination that I needed.
I have another gear shift knob that reguires a different combination. It needs an insert from 3/8 16 course to the stock Model A 5/16 24 fine. Does anyone know of a company who might sell that combination?
 
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA said:
Over a year ago I needed a threaded insert for a gear shift knob. I was fortunate enough to find a company who sold the exact combination that I needed.
I have another gear shift knob that reguires a different combination. It needs an insert from 3/8 16 course to the stock Model A 5/16 24 fine. Does anyone know of a company who might sell that combination?
Click to expand...


These are std Threads. Make a drawing/ sketch on paper and go to any local machine shop and this is a pretty basic job for anyone with a small lathe. In fact, I'd make two. Good Luck!
Terry
 
3/8-16 male to 5/16-24 as a bushing doesn’t give you much thickness, in fact I didn’t think it would work .
I was bored this afternoon so I made one .
The pictures show the results.
It was impossible to put the 5/16-24 threads inside the 3/8 threads so I used a bolt with a shank and put the threads in that portion.
Still thin but it works.
I’m no machinist but have a small combo mill lathe that I mess around with .
If you want this “experiment “ just send me your address in a PM and I’ll drop it in the mail .
You can shorten the 3/8 “ threaded portion if you need to.

Pete
 

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I agree with Pete. I tried to make an adapter one time and
there was not enough material to thread inside and outside.
How about a 5/16-24 helicoil.
 
Can you put a nutsert in your shifter ball? (you know3 what these are, right?) If so, what size?
 
You could drill out the bad one, and take an old knob nut from another and epoxy it in the good shift knob! made one for Walter! Using a two part epoxy!
 

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Major diameter of 5/16 thread is 5/16. Minor diameter of 3/8 thread is 5/16. It ain't gunna work.
 
If you have a tap and die set, that is a pretty easy job, get a plug fitting for the knob, drill it the size needed for the shifter threads and cut the new threads in the plug. If the plug does not have enough meat for the new threads, you might drill out the shifter hole to use a bigger plug.
2v29r8UhhxHuj7.jpg

This shifter knob was an old stone door knob I just sanded and polished and used a plug to get the right threads.
 
petew said:
3/8-16 male to 5/16-24 as a bushing doesn’t give you much thickness, in fact I didn’t think it would work .
I was bored this afternoon so I made one .
The pictures show the results.
It was impossible to put the 5/16-24 threads inside the 3/8 threads so I used a bolt with a shank and put the threads in that portion.
Still thin but it works.
I’m no machinist but have a small combo mill lathe that I mess around with .
If you want this “experiment “ just send me your address in a PM and I’ll drop it in the mail .
You can shorten the 3/8 “ threaded portion if you need to.

Pete
Click to expand...

Nice job, Pete. I made something similar, except a different reason, to extend the length of my Mitchell shifter 4". I made it out of stainless steel.

For the glass knob (from my Grandma's house in the 60's), which uses a square shank, I filled it with J-B Weld, then drilled and tapped it.

549475
 

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Last edited:
petew said:
3/8-16 male to 5/16-24 as a bushing doesn’t give you much thickness, in fact I didn’t think it would work .
I was bored this afternoon so I made one .
The pictures show the results.
It was impossible to put the 5/16-24 threads inside the 3/8 threads so I used a bolt with a shank and put the threads in that portion.
Still thin but it works.
I’m no machinist but have a small combo mill lathe that I mess around with .
If you want this “experiment “ just send me your address in a PM and I’ll drop it in the mail .
You can shorten the 3/8 “ threaded portion if you need to.

Pete
Click to expand...
Hey that looks pretty good for homemade. I've taken some machining classes,but never really had enough time to get good at threading.
 
You might try this: Try this on some scrap first. Put a thin layer of grease on a 5/16 24 bolt, one that is in good condition with shinny threads. Fill the hole with epoxy and insert the bolt. After the epoxy cures, unscrew the bolt. Look for a nice bolt at the hardware store.
 
Harpkatt said:
Hey that looks pretty good for homemade. I've taken some machining classes,but never really had enough time to get good at threading.
Click to expand...

Neither have I !
Started out with a 3/8-16 bolt and cut the head off .The lathe allows you to get a hole in the center then you just run your tap in.
Pretty basic.
 
Gary WA said:
You could drill out the bad one, and take an old knob nut from another and epoxy it in the good shift knob! made one for Walter! Using a two part epoxy!
Click to expand...

Every time I see your shifter know of Walter I think wow I sure would like to have one of those.
 
Look up Jeff Dunham,comedian.One of his ventriloquist dummies is Walter.I like another one of his too,Bubba J.We all know at least one Walter,probably several.
 
Petew mailed me the threaded insert that he made on his lathe. It fit perfectly. He would not accept any payment. What a thoughtful guy!

I gave the special gear shift knob to a friend who can now put it on his family Model A.

Thank you Pete.
 

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