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Speed King bearings

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From OddBall

Know what's kinda funny, when I turn the bottom adjustment screws, the beater head goes closer or further away from the head at rest. No click either. The pedal floats or bounces when you take your foot off. I don't have my kit set up but I believe I could go from touching the head to back to the click sound before foot off..... that's what I hate, too loose and it goes back to clicking. I solved it by learning the screw positions. I love that it's solid drive but hate the hook part to the knuckle.

When you look at the physics of how the pedal and the cam is put together, there can only be a limited amount of adjustment by adjusting the pressure of the spring against the cam. I’ve tried the screws fully in and fully out and everywhere in between, but the beater doesn’t really move that much. I love how the pedal looks and I love the design but I don’t find using it that enjoyable. I wish I did!

"If 'A' equals 'success' in life then 'A' equals 'X' plus 'Y' plus 'Z' where work equals 'X', 'Y' is play and 'Z' is keeping your mouth shut" - Albert Einstein.


1920s 14"x5" Ludwig Super Sensitive Dual Snare
1957 6 1/2" x15" Slingerland WMP Concert King
1938 8"x15" Leedy Broadway Standard
1947-53 14x6.5" NOB Ludwig & Ludwig Universal
...plus a bunch of mismatched Slingerlands that collectively make a pleasing noise.
Posted on 3 years ago
#21
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37
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From Gerard Ball

When you look at the physics of how the pedal and the cam is put together, there can only be a limited amount of adjustment by adjusting the pressure of the spring against the cam. I’ve tried the screws fully in and fully out and everywhere in between, but the beater doesn’t really move that much. I love how the pedal looks and I love the design but I don’t find using it that enjoyable. I wish I did!

Sounds like your springs are junk or they are not attached to the rod properly. I really can't tell but now I'm gonna try to get that thing out.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 3 years ago
#22
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Yeah, Gerard...I agree with OddBall. Your SK is definitely in need of an overhaul. I'm betting the spring channels (within the "goal posts") are completely jammed up with hardened grease...and so your adjustment of the two bottom screws is not having any effect on the springs, and hence no effect on the at-rest position of the beater.

Very early in this thread - on 10/18, I posted a list of several steps on how to clean those things. I've done a handful of these overhauls. And YouTube is full of "how to's" also.

Good luck with it! If you get hung up, PM me.

Regards, MB

Posted on 3 years ago
#23
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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.

"If 'A' equals 'success' in life then 'A' equals 'X' plus 'Y' plus 'Z' where work equals 'X', 'Y' is play and 'Z' is keeping your mouth shut" - Albert Einstein.


1920s 14"x5" Ludwig Super Sensitive Dual Snare
1957 6 1/2" x15" Slingerland WMP Concert King
1938 8"x15" Leedy Broadway Standard
1947-53 14x6.5" NOB Ludwig & Ludwig Universal
...plus a bunch of mismatched Slingerlands that collectively make a pleasing noise.
Posted on 3 years ago
#24
Posts: 2753 Threads: 132
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It seems as though many drummers stay loyal to the Speed King for some reason or another. It's as though you know that this pedal is lacking in several respects compared with many pedals that have come before, during, and after the Speed King's lifetime. You can keep making adjustments and excuses for the Speed King all you want. I'm happy for you. It's your 57 Chevy that you never want to stop driving.I'm very much that way about my 1960s Rogers Swivomatic bass drum pedals.

No matter how far you push the envelope, it is still stationery.
Posted on 3 years ago
#25
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From leedybdp

It seems as though many drummers stay loyal to the Speed King for some reason or another. It's as though you know that this pedal is lacking in several respects compared with many pedals that have come before, during, and after the Speed King's lifetime. You can keep making adjustments and excuses for the Speed King all you want. I'm happy for you. It's your 57 Chevy that you never want to stop driving.I'm very much that way about my 1960s Rogers Swivomatic bass drum pedals.

I agree. Sometimes you come across some item in life that is a design icon and everyone raves about. You feel obligated to try it and hopefully love it too. Sometimes it just doesn't work for you. I feel the same way about white wine!

"If 'A' equals 'success' in life then 'A' equals 'X' plus 'Y' plus 'Z' where work equals 'X', 'Y' is play and 'Z' is keeping your mouth shut" - Albert Einstein.


1920s 14"x5" Ludwig Super Sensitive Dual Snare
1957 6 1/2" x15" Slingerland WMP Concert King
1938 8"x15" Leedy Broadway Standard
1947-53 14x6.5" NOB Ludwig & Ludwig Universal
...plus a bunch of mismatched Slingerlands that collectively make a pleasing noise.
Posted on 3 years ago
#26
Posts: 5176 Threads: 188
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I owned a couple Swivo pedals, too -a fixed footboard and a regular hinged version. It was only as good as its weakest part -which was the leather strap. Leather, after all, is a natural material and thus had inherent inconsistencies from strap-to-strap. The SpeedKing, with its all-metal, solid linkage, was far superior to the Swivomatic in that regard.

"God is dead." -Nietzsche

"Nietzsche is dead." -God
Posted on 3 years ago
#27
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From Gerard Ball

... I feel the same way about white wine!

That is because you probably don't know the wine of my region, my friend!

Posted on 3 years ago
#28
Posts: 2753 Threads: 132
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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.

No matter how far you push the envelope, it is still stationery.
Posted on 3 years ago
#29
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I've had at least one Speed King somewhere along the line and think that I too did not like the position of the beater at rest. It was fast. That much I recall. I currently have one Swivo pedal and I don't use it becuase I've never been able to get comfortable with any of the many versions I've had. Everything else I use is Rogers/Swivo.

When last active playing, I used a DW pedal. It was fine overall but I seem to recall it being difficult to avoid the tail end of the base plate lifting and that inducing a little bit of springiness into the overall connection with the bass drum.

Here today's problem - I have no idea at the moment what pedal I've been using most recently. I know it is newer but I simply can't remember what it is. Might be a Yamaha. I'll let you know when I repatriate. LoLoLoLo

In the meantime, good luck getting yours to satisfactory operation Morgatto.

Posted on 3 years ago
#30
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