hi all, i want to change my gearknob for a different one and remove the lift up reverse but on here peeps say you have to remove this spring to sort it, not attempted it yet just wondering where is this spring and how to do it lol.

Hiya mate ive done this myself what car you got? I'm afraid its a hacksaw job. Once you've cut the gear knob off you can remove the lift up reverse. The spring is inside the part you lift up, just take it out if you don't want the lift up anymore. I got a richbrook gear knob and shaft sleeve to cover it up looks mint, then just attach the original gaiter over the shaft sleeve JOB DONE. Sounds long but a half an hour job and well worth it, takes a while to get used to finding 5th as it is no longer guided in and reverse wacks back alot quicker. Hopes this helps.

To change the gear knob is a piece of cake and there is absolutely NO need to cut the gearstick to remove the 'lift-up reverse' (for a Punto Mk2/Mk2b).

The knob is simply pulled off by pulling up vertically (you need a bit of brute strength, but it does come off).
As far as the lift-up mechanism, once you pull the knob off, the spring comes off as well. The lifting mechanism is attached to the leather gaiter (its like a plastic tube).

You have 2 options - cut the cable tie on the inside of the gaiter at the plastic collar and remove the plastic shaft or, once you have the gaiter removed, remove the plastic ridge attached at the base on the right side of the gear stick (2x T30 or 35 hex screws if I remember).
Have a look at this thread. There is a nice picture of what I'm saying almost near the end of the thread.:
http://forums.puntomk2.co.uk/showthread.php?6448-Gear-knob!&p=94869
Total time taken - 10 minutes and NO permanent damage to any component.

Personally, I favoured removing the big plastic ridge on the right side. Biggest issue I found but soon got used to it, was that I'd overshoot 5th gear.
I've since put everything back as it was originally. Just replaced my gear knob with a Momo racing knob in leather (made especially for syringe type gear sticks). Cost me almost €135, but worth every cent.

thanks guys will give it a go next weekend
My car is a punto mk2 8v 1.2

I couldn't pull mine off was on so tight, so i gave up and cut it off ha