Golf Ball Shift Knob - Toyota Yaris Forums

MadMax · 02-27-2009, 10:52 PM

Well, I have been looking for a new shift knob for my auto. I recall reading where someone said they swapped one from a Tacoma, so today I asked my neighbor if I could see if the one from his Tundra would work. It didn't...

It would've been nice as he works at the Tundra line here in San Antonio.

I remembered someone on here making an apple shifter for his girlfriend who was a teacher. So, out of curiosity I dug around in my tool box and found the tap-and-die I used for a Jeep project a while back. I tried my shift knob on it and it seemed like a close fit, so I dug out an old golf ball and drilled a hole in it, then tapped it with the 5/16th tap I have. I tried to get the National Security Agency logo to end up on top, and it came out pretty well...

(Click on thumbnails for full-sized pic)

It wasn't as perfect of a fit as the stock know; but it tightened down pretty well, and actually it feels pretty good! I am going to try and find a black golf ball and try it, but in the mean time I am going to leave the NSA one in place to make sure it stays put well.

So, I thought I would share my little mod with my Yaris family!

Cheers! M2

lilredrocket · 02-27-2009, 11:05 PM

lmfao thats great very original!!!

cali yaris · 02-28-2009, 01:43 AM

so now you handle your ball every time you shift?

hmmmm....

jinxor · 02-28-2009, 02:11 AM

lolz
that is nice and original... i guess you might have a good grip while trying to shift as well aye!!!

SilverBack · 02-28-2009, 02:39 AM

LOL what makes it even more awesome is the skinny stick it's on looks a tee

The next step is to get green velvet carpets and have Tiger Woods sign your steering wheel

MadMax · 02-28-2009, 01:05 PM

Since I had a little free time this morning, I drilled and tapped a few more balls and am going to try and spray paint on black to see how it looks. I did a orange ball (already colored) this morning and it looks pretty good as well.

If anyone is going to try this, I would recommend drilling and tapping before painting. I painted a ball last night with the intent of drilling and tapping it in the morning, and I ended up drilling all the way through the ball. Oh, that reminds me, put a little piece of electrical tape on your drill bit to make sure you don't drill it too far!

And I did drive the Yaris today with the one I did yesterday on the shifter, it works great! I just need to get a little used to having a small shifter knob; but actually my hand fits over it fairly comfortably...

I may have to go by a local pro shop and see what other kind of golf balls are available. I think I might just do up a bunch of them, so I can swap 'em out based on my mood.

Cheers! M2

TickleTimeTim · 02-28-2009, 03:53 PM

what you really need to do is make several of these shift knobs in differnet colors and just sell them to different people on here.

MadMax · 02-28-2009, 04:26 PM

They're really easy to make, although if I could find colored golf balls they would be even easier!

I simply clamp the ball and drill a hole into it. Then I create threads in the hold with a 5/16" tap. Just cut the little bit of the ball cover that is remaining and screw it in place. It's that simple!

I work with a guy who is a golf nut, I am going to ask him if he knows of anyplace to get colored golf balls. The orange one looks pretty good, but I think a black one would look best. I am trying to paint one as we speak, but using a tee as a stand while painting is not a good idea. I found a long bolt and bolted it down to a piece of cardboard so it won't move when I try and paint it. I will let everyone know how it turns out...

And now I am on the lookout for other things I could drill and tap to use as a shift knob. This could be fun!

Cheers! M2

Yar Is Word · 03-08-2009, 12:21 PM

Here you go!
http://www.coloredgolfballsonline.com/

eTiMaGo · 03-08-2009, 12:29 PM

that's good stuff

next, for those with bigger hands, a baseball shift knob?

CTScott · 03-08-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yar Is Word

Here you go!
http://www.coloredgolfballsonline.com/

Did you notice the "add your own logo" option?

Group buy on YarisWorld logo golf ball shift knobs!

MadMax · 03-08-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eTiMaGo

that's good stuff

next, for those with bigger hands, a baseball shift knob?

Funny thing, yesterday we were out shopping and I saw a baseball and thought the same thing!

But I got a OBX Autobahn Kraftwerks Speed Star shift knob from LicoriceTRD yesterday that looks great (although it seems huge compared to the orange golf ball it replaced), so my desire to create some of my own shift knobs has subsided quite a bit. But I still may pick up a baseball at WalMart just to see how it would look...

Cheers! M2

02-27-2009, 10:52 PM	#1
MadMax Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 2,799	Golf Ball Shift Knob Well, I have been looking for a new shift knob for my auto. I recall reading where someone said they swapped one from a Tacoma, so today I asked my neighbor if I could see if the one from his Tundra would work. It didn't... It would've been nice as he works at the Tundra line here in San Antonio. I remembered someone on here making an apple shifter for his girlfriend who was a teacher. So, out of curiosity I dug around in my tool box and found the tap-and-die I used for a Jeep project a while back. I tried my shift knob on it and it seemed like a close fit, so I dug out an old golf ball and drilled a hole in it, then tapped it with the 5/16th tap I have. I tried to get the National Security Agency logo to end up on top, and it came out pretty well... (Click on thumbnails for full-sized pic) It wasn't as perfect of a fit as the stock know; but it tightened down pretty well, and actually it feels pretty good! I am going to try and find a black golf ball and try it, but in the mean time I am going to leave the NSA one in place to make sure it stays put well. So, I thought I would share my little mod with my Yaris family! Cheers! M2 Last edited by MadMax; 10-23-2010 at 08:00 PM.

02-28-2009, 01:43 AM	#3
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	so now you handle your ball every time you shift? hmmmm.... __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

02-28-2009, 02:39 AM	#5
SilverBack Joey View User's Garage Drives: '14 Scion xD 5-speed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: El Monte, Ca Posts: 3,529	LOL what makes it even more awesome is the skinny stick it's on looks a tee The next step is to get green velvet carpets and have Tiger Woods sign your steering wheel __________________ Formerly owned Met-Met. '07 Yaris LB 5-speed. A forum post should be like a skirt: Long enough to cover the subject but short enough to keep things interesting. "I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem." -Hank Hill

02-28-2009, 03:53 PM	#7
TickleTimeTim Free Mustache Rides View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,247	what you really need to do is make several of these shift knobs in differnet colors and just sell them to different people on here. __________________ Club SHIFT

03-08-2009, 12:29 PM	#10
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	that's good stuff next, for those with bigger hands, a baseball shift knob? __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

02-27-2009, 11:05 PM	#2
lilredrocket Slowy getting there View User's Garage Drives: 08 Liftback Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,464	lmfao thats great very original!!!

02-28-2009, 01:05 PM	#6
MadMax Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 2,799	Since I had a little free time this morning, I drilled and tapped a few more balls and am going to try and spray paint on black to see how it looks. I did a orange ball (already colored) this morning and it looks pretty good as well. If anyone is going to try this, I would recommend drilling and tapping before painting. I painted a ball last night with the intent of drilling and tapping it in the morning, and I ended up drilling all the way through the ball. Oh, that reminds me, put a little piece of electrical tape on your drill bit to make sure you don't drill it too far! And I did drive the Yaris today with the one I did yesterday on the shifter, it works great! I just need to get a little used to having a small shifter knob; but actually my hand fits over it fairly comfortably... I may have to go by a local pro shop and see what other kind of golf balls are available. I think I might just do up a bunch of them, so I can swap 'em out based on my mood. Cheers! M2

02-28-2009, 04:26 PM	#8
MadMax Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 2,799	They're really easy to make, although if I could find colored golf balls they would be even easier! I simply clamp the ball and drill a hole into it. Then I create threads in the hold with a 5/16" tap. Just cut the little bit of the ball cover that is remaining and screw it in place. It's that simple! I work with a guy who is a golf nut, I am going to ask him if he knows of anyplace to get colored golf balls. The orange one looks pretty good, but I think a black one would look best. I am trying to paint one as we speak, but using a tee as a stand while painting is not a good idea. I found a long bolt and bolted it down to a piece of cardboard so it won't move when I try and paint it. I will let everyone know how it turns out... And now I am on the lookout for other things I could drill and tap to use as a shift knob. This could be fun! Cheers! M2

03-08-2009, 12:21 PM	#9
Yar Is Word Drives: Yaris 5 door liftback Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 648	Here you go! http://www.coloredgolfballsonline.com/

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