Installing a Quiklok Paddle Adjuster

Installing a Quiklok Paddle Adjuster
Step 1
Check that your paddle shaft’s internal and external dimensions will accept the Quiklok shaft and
collet dimensions.
Step 2
Take a good look at your existing paddle. Here I’m fitting the Quiklok to a 216 cm wing blade
paddle.
One key relationship is the feather angle between the left and right blades. With wing blades
there are no flat surfaces to measure the feather angle between the blades, as well as the blades
being offset from the shaft centerline.
If you know the feather angle, mark a straight line along the length of the shaft to retain a
common reference line when you cut the shaft.
With my paddle I did not know the feather angle so I use a system to put each blade in a vertical
“zero” feather angle as explained in the following steps.
Step 3
Before cutting the shaft decide on the maximum length you want the paddle to be. In my case the
paddle was a 216 cm paddle, which was maximum length I wanted, so needed to be able to
shorten it.
Step 4
Mark the center of the paddle.
Step 5
Assemble the Quiklok with the shaft off cuts supplied.
Lock it off at the maximum length index line and align this with the shaft centerline.
Mark off the ends of the off cuts on the paddle shaft, noting which is the left side and right side off
cuts.
Step 6
Remove the off cut ends from the Quiklok and mark back along the shaft towards the centerline,
the length of each off cut.
This is the right side, using the off cut to measure back to the cut point.
Do the same to the left side.
Step 7
Take a deep breath, check everything again, (measure twice, three times, and again), then
happy, cut the shaft with a fine tooth (metal) saw.
Step 8
Set the zero feather on the Quiklok
The shaft insert Top Dead
Center (TDC) is marked by the
third notch. Zero feather.
The locknut Top Dead
Center (TDC) is marked
by the molded line. Zero
feather.
This is the zero off set where the paddle blades are in the same plane or zero feather angle.
Step 9
Setting the blades at zero feather to align with the zero feather marks on the Quiklok.
To set the left and right blades at
the same vertical angle I place the
blades against a flat board. To do
this you have to flip the left and
right blades over. Here the right
hand blade (mark the blade so you
don’t get them confused), is being
held against the board. This gives
me a vertical common reference.
Looking over the shaft,
mark the TDC on the shaft
aligning the lock nut TDC.
Repeat with the left side on
the shaft.
Here are the marked TDC’s
Step 10
Tape the Quiklok in position before gluing.
Take a look at the paddle, eye up the blade angles and check that in the zero feather position
things look even. Set the blade at 45 degrees or other angles and study the feather angle. Adjust
if needed until you are happy. Mark the Quiklok and shafts ready for gluing so you know the glue
position.

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