Crap, only 4 images per post!!
Finally, the bare **** with the locking collar back in place, sans leather boot of course. Here you can see the pins on the base of the **** and better understand how the top of the leather is then pinched between the base of the **** and the locking collar. These did not want to separate simply by pulling firmly on the **** - that's when the leather was coming under abuse I wasn't willing to give it.
So now it's off and I can get my custom shift boot made up to match my two tone leather interior, complete with light grey stitching!