Dont hack saw it off!
Pull up the leaver shroud and covering so that you can see the gear stick, theres a self expanding cotter pin stopping the "wine shift from dropping" (lift the bit underneath the geat nob and just look to see how it works then youll get my meaning. Remove the pin by tapping it with a very small hammer, and I mean small tapes or something might break and it will cost you more. Onces thats removed get a pair of moul grips with lock it onto the shaft and also a pair or stillsons (big pair needed) and one person hold the gear shaft firmly whilst the other one turns the gear nob off. It on a vry thin thread that has a form of lock tight on it so pressure is required. Trust me on this as Ive had 2 172s and changed them both and change 3 other mates. DONT HACKSAW - Besides causing a mess, damaging the shaft, wrecking upto a dozen mini blades its the wrong way...Ill post you a PM just incase you dont read it.
