Absolutely not. I have literally just overhauled it, completely cleaned with new lube and brand new bearings. The issue is with the design of the pedal mechanism not its condition.
OK, we are trying to cover everything.
When you removed the springs, did they close up tight or stay opened an springy ?
I simply can't see a reason to sit the beater any closer than this, + or- a hair. Your foot on does the rest.
If you look close, you will see the knuckle scratch more famous than the squeak !!
Ha! Leedybdp is gonna love this one! :-)
That "knuckle scratch" on the batter head is caused by using a 1970s (or later) SK on an earlier bass drum. In ABOUT 1973 (as close as I can determine), Ludwig - for some reason- increased the width of the wooden hoops by slightly more than 1/4".
This set the SK further back from the batter head, admittedly a self-induced problem. Their solution was to shorten the "spacer" at the bottom of each "goal post," so that the SK would sit closer to the batter head.
So there are two types of SKs - those with the long tab (long spacer) and those with the short tab. Putting a short-tab SK on a pre-1973 bass drum hoop will cause the knuckle to rub on the batter head. So you have to swap something out - the SK or the hoop, OR just position the SK so that it is slightly to the rear of being fully pressed forward onto the hoop.
But still, I love the Speed Kings! I believe! ! ! ! ! Ha!
Regards, MB
The leather strap can be replaced by (and has been replaced by) an indestructible fiber material strap on my old workhorse Swivomatic pedal. Just like magic, the weakest part became the strongest part of the pedal.
Yes, I understand that it's replaceable....but the fact that it needed replacement to improve it, is still a weakness. Whenever a user has to change a component, it's no credit to the company.
And yes, I also know that Rogers did replace the leather strap with one of those white fiber ones with the advent of the Supreme pedal....because I owned two of those, too!
Since the OP is talking about Speed King pedals, I'm going to keep my thoughts to it and not reference other makes.
In regards to what Marty Black mentioned about "knuckle scratch", he is absolutely correct! What many of us are not aware of is that the depth of Ludwig bass drum hoops is 1-3/4", while those of most other companies is set at 1-1/2". When the SK is used with hoops less than 1-3/4", the rocker will hit the bass drum head, which is exactly why the SK came with those hoop spacers...to position the pedal back 1/4" and eliminate "knuckle scratch"!
-Mark
Well, after four pages of discussing SKs, it's not unusual for the topic to take a turn or two. Generally, in order to discuss the weaknesses or strengths of one pedal or another, comparisons will be made.
To further beat the dead horse, attached is a page from a Ludwig catalog that another VDF member posted. I previously never saw the remedy posed in this illustration, but it points to the problem of using the 1970s "short spacer" SKs with the earlier hoops that were narrower than the 1970s Ludwig hoops, hence the SK being positioned a bit too far forward, resulting in the "knuckle" scraping the batter head.
The "hoop spacers" shown in the catalog illustration move the SK slightly back away from the batter head.
Without the "hoop spacers," this ad suggests moving the SK back 1/16". I think it's more like 1/8". But now even I am tired of talking about this! :-)
Whew! Let's move on! MB
To further beat the dead horse, attached is a page from a Ludwig catalog that another VDF member posted. I previously never saw the remedy posed in this illustration, but it points to the problem of using the 1970s "short spacer" SKs with the earlier hoops that were narrower than the 1970s Ludwig hoops, hence the SK being positioned a bit too far forward, resulting in the "knuckle" scraping the batter head. The "hoop spacers" shown in the catalog illustration move the SK slightly back away from the batter head. Without the "hoop spacers," this ad suggests moving the SK back 1/16". I think it's more like 1/8". But now even I am tired of talking about this! :-)Whew! Let's move on! MB
Well said, MB! Yes Sir
-Mark
... In the meantime, good luck getting yours to satisfactory operation Morgatto.
Thanks, Dan.
My pedal is now fully operational after the obligatory cleaning and greasing process. The truth is that I bought it for purely collectible reasons. My workhorse will continue to be the black Speed King that I bought new in 2007 or 2008 and it still works like the first day. Regards.
