How do you take the gear shift shaft off the transmission on a 1981 Ford Bronco?

put the vehicle in neutral. remove rubber boot that is around the gear shift where it goes thru floor.u will see at bottom of shift a ball. push down on this ball and twist it.it has 2 pins that hold it in place ,sort of like a light bulb.when u twist it, it will clear the pins,u then just lift the shifter out of the tansmission