Abstract: A control lever assembly includes a knob mounted on a lever, a wheel rotatably mounted in an upper portion of the knob, and a rotary encoder coupled to the wheel. The knob has a housing with an opening which extends part way into a side wall and a top wall thereof. Part of the wheel top surface and side surface are exposed through the opening. The wheel has a rotation axis which is generally parallel to a main axis of the lever. An inner housing attached to the lever encloses a portion of the encoder, and the inner housing is enclosed by the knob housing. The knob housing is releasably attached to the inner housing in a snap-fit manner.