New Shifter Knob
 

I've got a 1995 Honda Accord 4-doorLX and I'm tying to replace the existing shifter knob with a new, smaller one but the holes on the new shifter knob are too small for the current screws. The new shifter knob comes with what they call Allen screws but I have absolutely no idea how to use them. I can add pictures if you want but will someone please show me how to do this. If you could, please add step-by-step pictures, it would make my life so much easier. Thank you.

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

Thanks for putting the year/model of your car, but for this we need to know whether is an AT or manual tranny! Thanks!:D

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

Oh, yeah, sorry about that, it's an automatic but the kit is for an automatic transmission, and you push down to change gears. I'm going to take pictures of everything right now, be right back.

Current Shifter Knob

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/3033/car020fn0.jpg

Without Shifter Knob

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2461/car021tn5.jpg

Kit with Shifter Knob, Keychain, Pedals, and Tire Valve Caps, all Chrome

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/1313/car022pn8.jpg

New Shifter Knob

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/4996/car023pw4.jpg

One of two Screw's from Current Shifter Knob, too big for holes innew Shifter Knob

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/1940/car024yf6.jpg

Holes in new Shifter Knob, too small for screws from current Shifter Knob

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/8151/car025cq5.jpg

Screws called Allen screws that come with new Shifter Knob to fit holes, don't know how to use them or what they're for, has screw but no head to screw

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3644/car026hw3.jpg

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

The kit should have come with an "L" shaped peice of metal called an "Allen wrench" that allows you to tighten the allen screws. The allen screw has a hole on one end of it that allows you to insert the allen wrench to tighten the allen screw. The allen wrench acts like a screwdriver and the allen screw works just like a regular screw. Judging by the last picture, the way the allen screw is sitting in your handthe hole looks like it is on the left side.
Here is a picture of an allen wrench that came with a kit I bought that has allen screws:


[IMG]local://upfiles/7626/3B40C67A964F47A3B36538B905AA9885.gif[/IMG]

Check the kit. There should be an allen wrench that fits in the allen screw. If there isn't one, they sell them in sets at Wal Mart or Lowes. They probably have them at Auto Zone or O'reilley as well. Go to one of those stores and bring the allen screw. See if you can find an allen wrench that fits it. Or ask someone that works there if they have any allen wrenches that fit that screw. They will probably help you find one.
Also if you went to an AutoZone...if one of the workers was bored, they might even help you install the new knob. Theworkers at the AutoZones around here are very helpful. Just don't go by there when they are about to close the store;)

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

That shift knob looks like it fits a manual instead of automatic. I don't see a button on top for shifting an automatic?

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

The reason you don't see a button is because, like I said before, you push down on the shifter knob with the palm of your hand to change gears. And, by the way, it does come with an Allen wrench, I just didn't take a picture of it when I was out there in my car. But I still don't know how the Allen screws are suppose to work. I knew how to screw them in with the Allen wrench but the screws are barely long enough to stick out of the other end in the new shifter knob and even if they fit the hole in the new shifter knob, the holes in the actual shifter itself are too big for the Allen screws to fit since they had to accomodate the size of the old screws. I looked at other shifter knobs at AutoZone and the size of the holes are exactly the same and they all have Allen screws, too. I don't get how the heck you're suppose to put a new shifter knob on when every single one that they make has screws that are too small to fit the factory shifter. I understand where the Allen screws go, what they do, and how to put them on, but what I don't get is how to put the new shifter knob on if the hole from the old screws is too big for the Allen screws.

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

Understood.
The allen screws are normally designed to put enough pressure on a surface that has no holes in it so that the new knob will stay in place. I don't know if that makes any sense. Can you twist the knob so that the holes for the allen screws do not line up with the stock holes? I do not belive you are supposed to put the allen screws through the stock holes on the shift lever itself. Unless the kit says to do so.
I would try to line up the allen screw holes so that they don't go through the stock holes. They just need to press against the metal on the stock shift lever. They work kind of like a clamp to clamp the new knob to the exhisting lever.

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

I understand what you're saying, but won't they fall out or lose their grip really easily?

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

I had that problem (allen screws losing grip)with a universal shift knob that used allen screws on a manual shift. I just figured it lost its grip because I was extra rough on it. I tend to shift pretty hard.
Try putting some loctite (you can buy it in the automotive section at wal mart) on the threads of the allen screwsbefore screwing them in. That might make it hold better. Other than that, I believe that is how the kit was intended to be installed.
Again, I didn't install this exact kit, but I installed a similar knob on a manual shifter (there were no stock holes in the stock shift lever at all) and that was how the install worked. Just tighten the allen screws down like a clamp. Just try not to twist the knob once you have it "clamped" on and it should stay pretty tight.

RE: New Shifter Knob
 

Yeah, well I put it on, and the shifter knob still spun arounda full 360 degrees and I couldn't figure out how to make it not spin. Besides that, my only other problem is the fact that the paint from underneath the old shifter has worn away after years of use. You can see what I'm talking about in the picture below.I was wondering if there was any way to fix either the spinning problem or the worn away paint problem. I thought about black spraypaint or black paint but I'm not sure. What do you guys think about both problems?

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6892/car028jl8.jpg