haha, that is really funny!!

In the freshman doorm, I got the worst stomach flu of my life. I remember at one point thinking that if I died, that would be ok. With trips to the bathroom every 15 minutes, eventually one runs out of toilet paper. I go to change the roll, and the spring actuated roller did an amazing double back flip. I heard a splash. Ugh. I never told anyone, just fished it out and you know went back to bed.

 

"A man has to know his limititations."

Inspector Harry Callahan, "Magnum Force"

 

Since you want to save the ****, I think the best method is to use the smallest wrench possible that fits around the lever - I've even used crescent wrenches - and clamp a pair of vise grips immediately below the wrench. Now you can pry the **** up a little bit at a time. You may have to reposition the vise grips several times to keep the leverage going. I've had them hold on most of the way up.
If you are careful, it causes little or no damage to the ****.

 

I'm not too keen on the potential for damage to the shift lever with this method, though? VG's aren't always kind to metal.

 

A little easier to touch up the shift lever than finding a new ****.

 

Well, I'm still not so sure about that, seems like unecessary "abuse" still, to me.

My **** took a good "beating" and emerged unscathed, and hangs proudly above my workbench.