do you just pull hard like for the manual shift knob? or is there a trick to it?

 

Place an open end wrench under the knob and hit up on the wrench. Beware the knob will fly off.

 

it just pulls off... just twist while you pull and try not to hit yourself in the head when it comes off

 

Thats how I did it. Almost got the knob to hit me in the head on the way off

 

"just pulls off"

I had to use a 5 pound sledge on mine with an open end box wrench held in a pipe to get enough force to get mine off. I don't know what it is about mine, but the inside bolts and connections were absurdly tight. The outside plastic connectors have pretty much fallen off though, so I guess it averages out.