Knob!

[parrish]

The gear knob on my 131 rotates, at first i thought that it, the gear knob, was loose.
I have since discovered that its the whole shaft that the gear knob sits on that rotates, it is freely rotating.
This doesnt seem normal.
Is it?
Steve

[kev131]

Steve....the gear lever on my super rotates freely......its normal.....

[mirafioriman]

I don't think it's normal. Definitely not on a series 2. There's some sort of plastic clip arrangement I think that holds it which probably breaks. They're often for sale on eBay.

[Tas131]

There's nothing to stop it rotating, the plastic clips stop it from pulling off. There are some rubber grommets that restrict it turning, after 30 years the rubber gets a bit hard and the knobs rotate easier.

[Thotos]

No it shouldn't rotate! The bottom of the gearstick shaft is not round but has two large slots into which the white plastic clip fits. The shaft out if the gearbox extension has two fixed "keys" that fit into slots in the white plastic. Lift up the rubber gearshift boot so you can see the two white plastic lugs sticking out of the side of the shaft. These lugs should be tight up against the gearshift black shaft. If they are not, make sure the gearshift is pointing straight in the right direction and pull up the white lugs until they click into place and they'll stop the gearshift from turning.

[kev131]

Are you referring to a Sport gear lever Theo?

[Thotos]

All Series 1 and Series 2 cars including the Sport/Racing have the same white plastic retainer clip. I don't know about Series 3 as I never had one of them but I suspect they are the same too.

[Tas131]

The shaft out if the gearbox extension has two fixed "keys" that fit into slots in the white plastic.

Admittedly I've never had a close look, I just thought it was round, I'll have to pull one off the shelf and check it out.

[131DHOC]

Series III white plastic clip is totally round and can easily rotate.

[simon131]

All of my 131 gear knobs/levers rotate - always have done. From the Abarth to the Specials - all of mine are series 1 cars. My orange S has only done 16,000 miles so I doubt that anything has broken or worn, but my Abarth's gear stick rattles and vibrates like a lunatic at motorway cruising speed so something is obviously amiss - but I don't really mind as the sound is 'lost' amid all the other noises! 

[ZFA16V]

My series one don't spin (angeled gear lever).
White clip holding it from spining.