IPD automatic gearshift knob replacement button issue

[scot850]

I have a few nice wooden gearshift knobs with failing buttons so while they were on sale I bought 3 replacements as shipping to Canada is a priced by weight increments it basically made the shipment of these parts free on top of my order.

Anyway, I have had replacement buttons in the past from FCP and IPD and had no real issue fitting them. These however I am failing at the first step. You are supposed to snap the bottom of the new button over the lower steel pin. I could not do this and after fighting it for a while decided to compare old and new buttons. The new button has the ends of the pocket it snaps into, that are about 1.5mm short than the pin!! The original button the pin is the same width as the pin.

I have e-mailed IPD to see if they have had an issue with these recently, but I can see the only 'fix' may be to grind the hardened pin shorter but the old adage, once it is shorter hared to make the pin longer again if this is the wrong choice!

Anyone done this job in the recent past and found a solution that does not include grinding the pin or breaking the new button forcing it on?

Thanks,

Neil.

[scot850]

I ground bout 1.5-2mm off the pin and it went back together no problem. I'll post pictures when I get more time.

Neil.

[scot850]

As promised here is how I fixed the problem.

To recap, I needed to replace the automatic shift button on one of my spare gear knobs as it had deteriorated to the point where it would break off eventually or jam.

I purchased 3 replacement MTC knobs from IPD and have used these before with no issues. Once you have done this once it is fairly straight forward as per the supplied instructions from IPD.

Removing the original button required using a narrow screwdriver pushed up inside the base of the removed gear shift knob. You need to push the knob down fairly hard to allow the top of the button to open a gap at the top. You can then access the retaining spring and unhook it as per instruction sheet.

You then twist the button sideways and it will come out of the shift lever.

My issue was that when I tried to fit the new button as per the instructions I could not get it to easily fit over the lower pivot pin. If you look closely at the picture you can see where trying to force it on has already caused a small crack on the RH end in the picture below

Note: DO NOT FORCE THE NEW MTC BUTTON ONTO THE SEATING PIN!!

New knob and pin is too long

PXL_20220715_222619245.jpg (220.9 KiB) Viewed 342 times

Below is how the pin should sit in the lower pocket of the old button. You can also see how much has broken off the original!!

Original know and pin in place

PXL_20220715_222516685.jpg (330.7 KiB) Viewed 342 times

To get the pin to fit as per the original I ground and filed 1.5-2mm off the original pin (new ones are not supplied but should not be needed)
You can the the difference below (modified pin is the lower one!):

Pin after grinding

PXL_20220715_223523827.jpg (234.04 KiB) Viewed 342 times

Your gauge is it should fit easily but snug like on the original!

The button then fitted easily back into position. One deviation from the supplied instructions is I fitted the button onto the lower pin first and then the upper pin afterwards by sliding the pin through the upper locating holes of the button and the slot in the lever.

Finished item below:

Finished button repair

PXL_20220715_224006756.jpg (292.87 KiB) Viewed 342 times

I have highlighted the repair problem to IPD but based on past issue highlighted they don't always follow up on the issue fixes on their website or the supplied instructions.

Neil.