Usually it is sufficient to clean and grease the cone surfaces and the locking flaps which can be accessed from the outside without dissembling the unit.
Completely disassembling the unit is only required if the grease on the inner mechanism has completely washed out or there is some severe amount of dirt and debris inside, hindering proper operation.
Note that this requires some mechanical skills and should be approached with caution! If you feel unsure about the procedure it is better to return your QRT to Ambient for service.
Tools you'll need:
- 1.5 mm Allen key
- 2 mm Allen key
- Fine hook (e.g. a dental pick)
- Special tool: a piece of bent wire (approx. 3 mm gauge), covered with heat-shrink tubing or tape to protect the surface from scratches
- Bench vise
- Paper towels
- Grease – we use the same PAO-Lithium (Polyalphaolefin) grease for our QuickLoks as for our QuickPole boom poles
Disassembly and cleaning, step by step:
- Remove the tip from the QuickLok.
- Unscrew the M4 grub screw on the bottom using the 2 mm Allen key
- Take the special tool (bent wire with scratch protection) and place it in the groove between the aluminum body and the plastic cap of the QuickLok
- Then carefully clamp it in a bench vise
- Gently tighten the vise until the plastic cap pops off
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- Remove the plastic cap
- A second grub screw (M3) is now visible – this one prevents the inner part from twisting too far. Unscrew it using the 1.5 mm Allen key
- Unhook the spring from its groove using the fine hook
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- Hold the spring in place with your fingernail or the hook, then unscrew the inner carrier completely from the chassis (counter-clockwise)
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- Carefully remove the spring from the carrier
- Now clean all parts thoroughly with paper towels.
Re-assembly:
- Slide the spring back onto the carrier and hook it back into its groove.
- Grease all parts thoroughly using a toothbrush or your finger before assembling. Important: don't forget to apply grease to the inner side of the top, where the flat top of the microphone tips connects – otherwise the tips can seize.
- Screw the M3 grub screw back in. You will have to hold the turning inner part with your thumb to do so
- Push the plastic cap back on – it simply snaps into place with a bit of pressure
- Finally, screw the M4 grub screw back in
That's it – your QuickLok is now ready for many more years on your boom pole.