Replacing Defender gearknob/transfer knob

[Fraser]

Hi,

I recently had had the well-documented issue of my 2012 Defender 90 gearknob cracking and falling apart in my hand.

After LOTS of research I sorted it with new Croytec knobs. I bought anodised black with engraved markings painted retro white. Croytec are a Pommie company that mail over here.

i removed the gearlever by pushing down the rubber gaiter (instructions on this site).

I cut away the perished rubber knob revealing a hard a hard plastic knob underneath. That took lots of work to remove but I got there eventually. It reveals a metal shaft. I measured the depth of the thread on the knob and cut the gearlever length to suit. The Croytec knobs have an M12 thread so I cut this into the gearlever. The knob fitted but not perfectly straight so I used blue threadlock to get the knob sitting perfectly.

The transfer case lever simply pulls off. I then cut off the knob. There is a plastic cover on the shaft. I measured the depth of the thread on the knob and cut off that amount of plastic cover. I replaced the rubber/plastic lever and cut an M12 thread into the shaft.

i fitted the transfer case knob and sat back with a beer to enjoy the fruits of my labour.

If that sounds easy it wasn't. I swore lots and got through a few beers and 2 band-aids. The end result is worth it though. it is pretty retro and reminds me of Series Landrovers.

Croytec will do virtually any colour anodising and can do polished or matte aluminium. They were great to deal with.

[dazzler]

Hi,

I recently had had the well-documented issue of my 2012 Defender 90 gearknob cracking and falling apart in my hand.

After LOTS of research I sorted it with new Croytec knobs. I bought anodised black with engraved markings painted retro white. Croytec are a Pommie company that mail over here.

i removed the gearlever by pushing down the rubber gaiter (instructions on this site).

I cut away the perished rubber knob revealing a hard a hard plastic knob underneath. That took lots of work to remove but I got there eventually. It reveals a metal shaft. I measured the depth of the thread on the knob and cut the gearlever length to suit. The Croytec knobs have an M12 thread so I cut this into the gearlever. The knob fitted but not perfectly straight so I used blue threadlock to get the knob sitting perfectly.

The transfer case lever simply pulls off. I then cut off the knob. There is a plastic cover on the shaft. I measured the depth of the thread on the knob and cut off that amount of plastic cover. I replaced the rubber/plastic lever and cut an M12 thread into the shaft.

i fitted the transfer case knob and sat back with a beer to enjoy the fruits of my labour.

If that sounds easy it wasn't. I swore lots and got through a few beers and 2 band-aids. The end result is worth it though. it is pretty retro and reminds me of Series Landrovers.

Croytec will do virtually any colour anodising and can do polished or matte aluminium. They were great to deal with.

I think we need to encourage someone to come up with a leather cover that will prevent it from cracking in the first place.

[Tombie]

Fraser, well done..

Are you aware of forum rules?

“It didn’t happen without pics”

[Red90]

Why did you shorten them and cut new threads instead of just using the existing threads?

[Tombie]

Why did you shorten them and cut new threads instead of just using the existing threads?

Tdci is different to earlier models

[dazzler]

Land Rover Defender 110 90 130 leather Genuine Gear Lever + Handbrake | eBay

[dazzler]

New Genuine Land Rover Defender Heritage limited edition gear sticks levers red/ | eBay

[Fraser]

Hi all,

i didn’t bother to take any pics for 2reasons:
- it was 35C and 90% humidity in my garage at the time (Cairns) so I wanted to get finished and into the pool, and;
- I thought the job was a bit uninteresting to warrant pics. I figured the description would be basic and clear enough.

After a few months since fitting I am delighted with them. Nice to touch (not too hot) and being anodised black with white writing they look quite retro which I think is cool. Should last a bit longer, and if they wear a bit I’ll just get them re-anodised.

i thoroughly recommend the swap if your Puma knob/s have perished.

[Bigbjorn]

You mean they don't have threaded gear sticks?

The rubber bushes in my 110 knobs disintegrated so I bought two brass door knobs from the local liquidation shop ($2 each, big spender), drilled and tapped them to fit and Bob's your Mum's brother.

[Cammo]

Fraser - pics of the finished product would still be good!!