New gear lever gaiter

[Hairyarse]

Well top marks to 'JF Boots' on ebay - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/TOP-GAITERS-BOOTS?_trksid=p4340.l2563

They have a web site too but price inc P&P is the same. I ordered a new gaiter from them on Tuesday, turned up today to replace my old, tatty, half missing one!

When it arrived I didn't think it was going to fit as was expecting a more bulbous end (ah-hem [])

I emailed them tonight and they were straight back in touch, assured me it will fit so gave it a bash. TBH it's veeerrryyy tight to get on and I have little skin left on my finger tips, however it does fit a treat

I need to fit the leather under the gear pattern disc a tad better but it was dark and late and this will do for now.

Anyway, if you need a new gear lever gaiter then give these guys a try, £22.98 all in can't be bad.

Cheers
Andy

 

[zcacogp]

Cue lots of jokes (as always happens when this topic turns up!) about getting a tight fit around the end of your knob and rubbing it until it fits and pulling it back flush with the end and then tucking it in etc etc etc ...

.. all good, clean fun!

Nice job Andy. Looks like a bit of tidying around the gate pattern piece will help, but the rest of your knob looks fine! []


Oli.

 

[Copperman05]

That's the issue with these gaiters the leather needs to be thinned at the top to fit the gear stick properly, unless you have someone like southbound to make some it's very difficult getting them to look factory, the Porsche item is £180+ vat do I can understand the want to shop on eBay for alternatives...


Edd

 

[Hairyarse]

Yes Oli, I do need to finish off around my rim and then it will look polished []

Exactly Edd - I wanted to buy the genuine article - but not that much!

 

[Copperman05]

Andy,

Southbound will do a factory looking gaiter in Porsche leather, all colours, for about £80 I believe, which for a bit of handcrafted bespoke leather is not all that bad and a cheaper alternative to the Porsche item. If I had known about it myself before I bought mine from exeter opc thats where I would have put my money...


Edd

 

[zcacogp]

I think Edd should post a picture of his knob so we can all see how much nicer it is!


Oli.

 

[Hairyarse]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

I think Edd should post a picture of his knob so we can all see how much nicer it is!


Oli.

LMAO, what, better than my purple, bulbous one! ? []

Edd - £80 is a very fair price for a hand crafted one, not a bad option at all []

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

Andy,

Southbound will do a factory looking gaiter in Porsche leather, all colours, for about £80 I believe, which for a bit of handcrafted bespoke leather is not all that bad and a cheaper alternative to the Porsche item. If I had known about it myself before I bought mine from exeter opc thats where I would have put my money...


Edd

I agree with Edd here. I havent ever seen an eBay gaiter that doesnt look poor. For £80 I think that Southbounds offering represents excellent value. Its a shame that Top Gaiters havent applied themselves to this, because Ive bought a couple of MX-5 gear and handbrake gaiters from them and those items have been excellent.

Despite not really making a suitable replacement here, they seem to be charging almost twice what they charge for a gear and handbrake set for an MX-5, too...

 

[DavidL]

I got very lucky with my gaitor.
I bought the same kit as this one and put it on but try as I might I couldn't get a very good fit.
So I bought another off ebay already done. Or so I though. When it cameits a hand made and stitched complete leather cover - so no insert showing the gears but I think I can remember what's what. Cost me a fiver I think.
I'll try and put a pic up.

 

[robwright]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

I agree with Edd here. I havent ever seen an eBay gaiter that doesnt look poor. For £80 I think that Southbounds offering represents excellent value. Its a shame that Top Gaiters havent applied themselves to this, because Ive bought a couple of MX-5 gear and handbrake gaiters from them and those items have been excellent.

Despite not really making a suitable replacement here, they seem to be charging almost twice what they charge for a gear and handbrake set for an MX-5, too...

I disagree. I had the Porsche Shop item bought for me by my children for Christmas, which I am sure is probably manufactured by the same factory as Andy's aftermarket and had the same thoughts. However I took the time to stretch the leather properly over the 'excuse the pun' knob and it turned out just fine. Well happy with it. I could of course have paid a coach trimmer a million pounds to do it but I can live with it being just less than perfect []

 

[944 man]

Did you wet it Rob? Im honestly not trying to continue the knob humour here, but I have heard that eBay type replacements can be coaxed into fitting a great deal better is the leather is soaked beforehand which allows the hide to stretch.

As you can probably tell, Im disappointed with TG as Id intended to buy a replacement for my Turbo from them, having been very happy with their MX-5 products.

 

[robwright]

No pun taken mate but I think the tighter the better. Working the leather has the same effect as thinning to a greater or lesser degree. After much coaxing to get it over the knob which took a while it was OK. Use makes a lot of difference too. You need to grip and hammer that knob. Again no pun but it does bed it in and make it better.

 

[944 man]

If you arent getting it wet, had you considered using a lubricant to help to slide the knob in? Id thought about petroleum jelly but either that or water might stain the leather, even black.

Simon

 

[Copperman05]

Pictures of my knob as requested.

New stock Porsche item, certainly looks the part but hideously expensive, not sure how one by Southbound would compare, David told me they would look pretty much factory, they certainly have the material and skill. For me a cared for and cherished car is seen in the details, if its worth doing, do it well, those who made the car didnt skimp on quality.

£80 for a Southbound bespoke gaitor in Porsche leather is a bargain in my book..

Edd

 

[zcacogp]

Nice picture Edd. That wasn't an accident - I'm guessing you are a keen 'tog?

ORIGINAL: 944 man
... had you considered using a lubricant to help to slide the knob in?

>Snigger< [8D]


Oli.

 

[T911UK]

Wheelskins in the USA make the best versions, colours are an issue with them though. They are nicely thinned around the top to help the shift pattern fit in

Talcum powder is great for easy the boot on, Im afraid the one in the first pic may be passed saving now as you need aleast 15mm to roll over and glue under the shift pattern, you may be able to stretch it down if your lucky

 

[wolfie308]

Your looks cracking now Edd, as you said, it's all in the detail. Not only does an impefect fit look poor, you're reminded every time you change gear.

The ones from http://www.prestigeparts.co.uk/ at £48 fitted were very good value. I got one in linen about 4-5 years ago and the fit/quality/colour match were excellent. Says most factory colours available, but not sure if they're still doing them.

This only pic I have at the moment - I'd take another close up, but sadly it's at the menders!

 

[T3rra]

Iv used the eBay one once b4. It was fine. Was black and the colour macth is black, I got a navy blue sample from them 4 my turbo but it's a tad shade 2 light, the turbo one just needs a bit off dye due 2 some light wear, but thought replace, keep original and use the other one.

I got a near perfect fit with my black one. It's done 20000 milesage still in good shape, been cleaned and treated with no problem. I spoke 2 Opc last week and they have stop making these. Think they were £200 ish as well. But came preonstoled on the gear knob.

It was the 1st time I had ever tried 2 fit some thing leather, and I just put in on and off a few times dry, then I used some superglue round the top, not really ideal as it don't give much time, once I got it on a set I popes up the stift patten, small amount off gule and stretched the leathers eage 2 the plastic siftger.


They make leather cassette case covers, and I was prosing they do a lather dash cover.

 

[944 man]

£20 for a 'cassette box cover' is bloody expensive for what is just a rectangle of leather, I think. Again Im comparing this to £12-£14 for an MX-5 gear lever gaiter and handbrake gaiter set.

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Nice picture Edd. That wasn't an accident - I'm guessing you are a keen 'tog?

Oli.

Yes I am a keen photographer, did it at degree level, now I like to combine my two passions. Old cars and old film cameras.

Ferrari at LMC 2012, Mamiya c330 TLR and Fuji RDPIII

Edd