I ordered a replacement shifter ****, one made from a pool ball (the #13, orange striped, of you must know...)

It arrived and I have to say it looks GREAT on the Hot Orange cabrio, but I have an issue...

The attachment is designed to slide over the shift post using a rubber insert-type thing. the problem is that the ball was obviously designed with a smaller diameter shaft than what's used on the Mini, because with the rubber collar totally removed the hole in the ball is only a few millimeters larger than the shaft. With the rubber collar in the hole, it doesn't look like it will be b nearly large enough to slip over the shaft...

I wrapped the top 3/4" of the shaft with some cloth tape and shoved the ball straight down, thinking that the added friction would help, and it did (when its cold, the ball barely turns when twisted), but when it's hot out, as it is now, the whole ball slides around really easily.

Has anyone else used a shifter **** from a pool ball, and if so how did you attach it? I'm wondering if I can use a bit of silicone sealer, like is used in bathtubs or fish tanks to attach it? My only concern with that is that it might glue it down TOO hard- I may want to remove it at some point in the future...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Your best bet would be to send the ball to Whalen and have Doug install his quick release attachment mechanism.

 

Hmmm... I assume that the device you mention has a certain specific interior diameter it needs to be installed inside of, and I doubt that when they drilled out the pool ball they used the right one. Plus I'm trying to AVOID spending $100 on something as trivial as a shifter ****, personally...

 

I heard from a local MINI owner that Doug charged something like $40 for the attachment. From your description, you would probably then have to drill out the ball and that may be more than you are looking for.

 

That's what I was thinking as well...

So... bathtub caulk?