[HD-JD110Fan]

While restoring my '66 110 I put quite a bit of thought into a way to try to remove the throttle and choke knobs from the control levers without damaging them. I wanted to share set up ideas that worked out very well for me. It's basically using a slide hammer method which is fairly easy to set up with a length of 1/4-20 or 5/16-18 threaded rod/all thread. I made a pulling nest to fit under the knob from a piece of aluminum square tubing section as shown in my photos. This could also be made from a piece of steel square tubing by cutting one wall away from the tubing. I drilled a hole in one end to attach the threaded rod and cut a slit in the opposite end to be able to slide the throttle and choke levers through the aluminum pulling nest. I took the extra time to mill a groove into the nest with my milling machine to seat the knob, but this is likely not necessary. In my case I'd removed the dash panel because I planned to repaint it later on and also wanted to remove the knobs since I wanted to have the levers cadmium plated along with a lot of other parts and fasteners. I clamped the lever securely in a vice with the set up I'll show in a photo before I attempted to remove a knob with the slide hammer. Any type of weight can suffice as the slide hammer that weighs at least a couple of pounds or so. I used a piece of solid steel stock that I drilled a hole through. Bear in mind that I did have the throttle or choke lever clamped securely in my bench vise before I used the slide hammer to remove the knob. The knobs came off quite easily with the slide hammer. I've never tried removing knobs from a dash still mounted to a tractor though, so if doing it this way, use caution in using the slide hammer to avoid damaging the dash panel in case the knobs are an abnormally tight fit on the levers. By using the method I'll show in the photos I was able to remove the knobs without any damage and they went back on the levers afterward with a good snug press fit.


Overall view of the slide hammer set up with throttle/choke lever clamped in a bench vise

Aluminum pulling nest made from square tubing section

View showing slit cut for throttle/choke lever

Side view of knob in pulling nest (shown inverted from normal pulling position)

Front View of knob in pulling nest (nest shown inverted from normal pulling position)

Aluminum clamping blocks taped to bench vise

I used aluminum blocks for clamping the levers, taped to my bench vise jaws with double sided tape. Wooden blocks, preferable hard wood, or steel would also suffice.

Dash Panel with choke lever clamped in vise and knob in pulling nest

Side view of knob ready to be pulled with slide hammer

Knob pulled free of lever

Success! Knobs removed from levers without any damage to knobs or levers

I believe removing throttle and choke lever knobs using this method will remove them safely without damage every time. Doing it this way involved a bit
more time and effort, but I was happy with the results. You can improvise your set up as needed and use materials that you have on hand.

 

[MiniHomesteader]

That’s awesome! Are you taking orders for those puller nests?

 

[tsb3]

That’s a great set-up!

 

[HD-JD110Fan]

That’s awesome! Are you taking orders for those puller nests?

Thanks for the interest in the knob pulling nests. I never really thought about offering these, I don't really know if there'd really be much of a market for them since it would one be a one time use item for most guys. Basically a simple part to make though, just mostly saw work and drilling a hole for the threaded rod.

 

[HD-JD110Fan]

That’s a great set-up!

Thanks Tom, this set up worked really well for me. It's just basically the old tried and true slide hammer principle.

 

[Kster526]

Well done sir you are a very talented individual.
A nice lesson shared with us all . Thank you

 

[Chaser]

Pretty slick! Looks like ya got a money maker on your hands.

 

[HD-JD110Fan]

Well done sir you are a very talented individual.
A nice lesson shared with us all . Thank you

Thanks Kyle, glad to share ideas that can be helpful. Collective ideas that our members come up with definitely benefit us all. Many tips and shared experiences on our site were a huge help with my 110 restoration and I truly appreciated it.

 

[HD-JD110Fan]

Pretty slick! Looks like ya got a money maker on your hands.

Thanks Chaser, maybe so. It's maybe something I can consider in the coming year. I really haven't tried this out on knobs on a dash still mounted on a tractor. I'd be curious to see how well it would do.

 

[Kster526]

So when can I buy that slick little gadget..
Did something similar but a little more crude for removing steering wheels.
I took a mower deck pulley that had the bearing already gone and cut it in half and made it like a muffler clamp that has the perfect opening to fit around the steering column. Once on and under the steering wheel I use the puller to slowly remove the steering wheel. I will soak it with creepy oil and add a little more tension every day until it pops off.
The few that I have used it on have worked well. Think one took three days before it popped off and then the steering wheel is removed undamaged and ready for restoration or replacement.

 

[Chaser]

Come on Kyle, where's the pics?

 

[Kster526]

They were on here in a much older post but they are probably long gone.
I am at the grind today so maybe in a few days when I have a moment.
Believe me its nothing special.

 

[HD-JD110Fan]

I remember your post Kyle on your steering wheel puller. That was a really creative solution and got the job well done sir. It's the ideas like this that we all appreciate. It's great to be able to meet the challenge and solve a problem with a little ingenuity like you did. Whether it's just for a hobby or to find a needed solution for the job, the satisfaction of achieving the desired result is the same. Ideas like this are a real benefit to all on this great website.
It'll be a while into the new year, but when I have time I'll check to see if I have more of the metal stock on hand that I used to make the knob pulling nests.