MadModder
Gallery, Projects and General => Project Logs => Topic started by: wquiles on May 17, 2011, 07:08:56 PM
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My prior posts were about machining flashlights, so today I have something different. Instead of buying a replacement shift knob for my car, I decided to try make one on my own.
I actually started by creating a way to hold the Aluminum I would use for the shift knob, so I created a short shift rod. I started by measuring the original one:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4979.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4981.JPG)
Here I am making the copy. I am using 12L14 "leaded" steel:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4976.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4978.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4983.JPG)
Once I got the shape right, I started threading (10-1.5mm):
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4985.JPG)
Checked the pitch against the tap after the first pass just to make sure!:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4986.JPG)
And after a "few" pases I had a good fit:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4987.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4988.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4991.JPG)
This material threads great!. Close-up:
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF4992_c.JPG)
My threading tools all use sharp carbide inserts. This one in particular is a Kennametal tool:
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF5022.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF5023.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF5024.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF5028.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF5025_c.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Tools3/DSCF5027_c.JPG)
OK, enough of the tool porn ...
Once I cut the screw to length, it looks like this:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4994.JPG)
And after Brownells "blackening" solution:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF4997.JPG)
I then started with a round piece of 6160 Al, about 2" in dia, and about 4" long:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5002.JPG)
After the piece was faced, I drill and tapped it:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5003.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5004.JPG)
I then started to give it shape (I supported from tailstock end most of the time):
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5010.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5011.JPG)
Once the shape was roughed out, I then started to do very light cuts using the compound:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5076.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5077.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5078.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5079.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5080.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5081.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5082.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5083.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5085.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5089.JPG)
And then it was done:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5090.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5092.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5093.JPG)
Before:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/CivicSi/DSCF4784.JPG)
After:
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5094.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5095.JPG)
(http://m3coupe.com/Honda/ShiftKnob/DSCF5096.JPG)
Will
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Will,
A very good post, very informative. :clap:
I thought your photography was excellent :clap: :clap: :clap:
The gear knob was very well made :thumbup:
DaveH
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Very nice journey! Great pictures too... the end result looks very nice. What kind of car?
Eric
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Thank you guys. It is a 2011 Honda Civic Si, 4-door.
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Nicely shown making of the gearknob. And boy do you have a lot of fancy lathe tooling :drool:
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Thank you guys. It is a 2011 Honda Civic Si, 4-door.
I thought that steering wheel looked Honda-ish. (I have a Honda Jazz(Fit) - thinking about adding something like this)
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Nice work, thanks for showing :clap: :clap: :thumbup:
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I want that 6 jaw chuck, been after one for 7 months.
Just one small problem, the gear sticks on the wrong side.
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Nice job Will. :thumbup:
One question though, how do you now know were the the gears are without it being lettered? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Bernd
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I want that 6 jaw chuck, been after one for 7 months.
At least the Bison I have is definitely worth the wait. I got lucky that I bought it new on special, right before the price went up like 30-40%.
With mine I can mount work, do work, unmount, do something else, remount work and be off less than 0.001", and if I mark the piece before I remove and line up again with the same jaw, I am basically spot-on as before. At least for the projects that I do, I don't ever worry about the work being centered - the chuck is that good for the work I do (i.e., accurate enough for me).
One question though, how do you now know were the the gears are without it being lettered? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Ahh - that is easy. I first drove the car for like two months with the factory shift knob, just so that I can memorize the pattern :)
In fact, I kind it find the whole pattern on top a "nice to have", but who really looks at it while shifting? :bugeye:
Will
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Nice job and great pictures :bow:
Looks more interesting than my ball one I made for my car
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt102/ja2onx/knob.jpg)
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Just one small problem, the gear sticks on the wrong side.
How can it be on the wrong side? It's in the middle. :lol:
Looks good, I'm planning to make one like J45on's for my MX-5.
Cheers
Jeff
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Ooh! this looks so nice.
I have a large Asian lathe with small levers that are probably quite adequate for smaller hands. You have inspired me to make some larger levers. Thanks.
-Dick
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Very nice job. Not long ago I made an aluminum steering wheel knob for my tractor. It works like a champ but the aluminum does coat my hand after a few minutes so I've taken to wearing gloves. Did you put some sort of coating on the knob? May be beneficial if you didn't.
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Looks nice, but try remaking it out of steel. You'll be amazed at how it seems to shift more smoothly. The weight gives it better feel.
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Nice job and great pictures :bow:
Looks more interesting than my ball one I made for my car
VERY nice ;)
Looks nice, but try remaking it out of steel. You'll be amazed at how it seems to shift more smoothly. The weight gives it better feel.
I need to try making a few more in Al to practice more, but yet, I "have" to do one in steel - I also read that they added weight is noticeable ;)
Will
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Very nice, I was trying to work out what car it was. I should have realised, am thinking about a Civic Type S diesel for my next car!
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Should be very noticeable 2.74 Specific gravity for Ally and Stainless about 7.8 Specific gravity!