TF LE500 - How to shorten the gear stick

Its quite easy to do, as long as you can get the knob off in the first place!

Its held on with a spring clip that fits into a groove inside the gear knob and also the gear stick. Hold the gear stick with one hand and pull the knob off with the other - its tight but will come off.




This shows the gear stick - you can see the flattened part of the shaft that stops the gear knob turning. Don't cut all of the flattened part off.



Secure the shaft with grips and place a rag around the base to stop swarf getting into the change mechanism then cut the shaft down by the amount you want to shorten - suggested 25mm to 30mm max.



Next you need to drill out the end of the knob by the same amount you cut down the shaft by. I used a 11mm diameter drill bit first then finished with a 12mm bit. This drills into the plastic insert (and the alloy), after drilling the plastic insert may fall out - retain for re-use.





Fit the plastic insert onto the shaft then refit the knob, mine was very slightly loose but a couple of turns of insulating tape on the shaft stopped this. Alternatively glue the knob back on but this prevents it ever being removed should you want to change the gaiter. Don't refit the spring clip as this has no groove to locate into anymore.

End result-

top notch guide!

Nice one. Amazing that they decided to change the way the knob fitted to the gear lever! Go figure.:dunno:

Nice How'to

One to include in the Giant PDF and the Workshop Companion.

Its made a fantastic difference to shifts - was so much fun for about 20 minutes then ... well ...