Fitting Manual Shifter Boot
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 511
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From: 3rd Rock From The Sun
Fitting Manual Shifter Boot
I picked up a replacement leather shift boot (manual shifter) the other day. The base has a nice little elastic band sewn into it and appears that it should stretch around the lower frame. However for the life of my I can't imagine how the upper rubber **** will fit into the leather. Is there a trick to getting it in? It seems to be a relatively common replacement, but I could find no threads discussing the actual job itself.
Would soaking the leather help? If so, can this be done in water or is a special solution needed?
All help is appreciated.
Would soaking the leather help? If so, can this be done in water or is a special solution needed?
All help is appreciated.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,743
Likes: 78
From: Minneapolis
Work it up from the bottom and keep working it. Press with thumbs. You want to stretch it over the ball so it's tight.
Carefully trim the excess at the top so the cap both goes on and holds the leather down. Better to trim too little and cut again than to trim too much.
Carefully trim the excess at the top so the cap both goes on and holds the leather down. Better to trim too little and cut again than to trim too much.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, Virginia
Ditto on the first response to your post. I just did this and the intructions said to use baby powder if you were having trouble getting the leather over the ball. You want about a 1/4 inch or so of overhang and keep working the leather around the rim. Kind of a pain, but once you have it so you can evenly distribute the overhang over the rim, spread (neatly) some glue around the sides of the rim and a little into the three slots for the cap. While simultaneously keeping the leather pinned down over the freshly glued rim, place (snap) the cap in place. You should now have a neat new shifter ****. It took me a couple of times to get the leather and cap in place neatly. Good luck.
