If it was me I would go to the hardware store and be looking for a short fitting with just a flat flange that's connected with a C clip instead of a nut. Does that help?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Vintage-PEARL-Snare-Drum-Throwoff-No-Res-9_W0QQitemZ390107038792QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad4310448

Here is one on ebay.. maybe you can get the seller to flip it over and send you a picture.

If you are not an ebay shopper and want the part... let me know and we can work out a transaction to get it purchased for you.

NOTE: I have no idea if that is a good price or not for that part.

Not to much help... but maybe a little.

DUH.. thanks Gonedrumming... there is a great shot right there..

Good find Jim...scroll down the auction and the back pic is there....

That's the "flange" thing I'm talking about, I bet the other side is connected with a C clip.

Thanks for your fast replies! Jim, I did see that strainer on ebay last night, unfortunately, I dont think $45 is a very good price. It isn't vintage, it's just used. New Ludwig P85s sell for about $20, the generic ones are sold for $15. I can get a whole used snare drum off CL for $45.

GoneD, is the pic below kind of like what you're talking about? Would I be able to find these parts at Home Depot?

Yeppers something like that....HD should have something in their plastic drawers, I saw C clips there the other day so I would think they have the connecting part too. If not HD, a nice ACE or independent hardware store might.

PS: You may need a small thin brass washer to make it work on the C side.

Thanks very much! I'll hit up the hardware store tomorrow and see what I come up with.

I think this must be a somewhat common problem. The reviews I read on Musiciansfriend of the Ludwig P85 were all pretty much negative, saying that the strainer was poor quality, didn't work well and broke down a lot. I'm wondering if more people are having issues with this design.

Got my strainer fixed up! In case anyone else has this problem with their P-85 type strainer, I thought I'd post what I did to fix it.

I used a #6-32 machine screw with a flat head that angled in toward the threading, like the one in the pic below. I couldn't find a C or E clip that would work for the screw so I tried a 3/16" hitch pin clip that I found at Home Depot. I put a small 'fiber' washer on before attaching the hitch pin clip. This set up seems to work pretty well. I was afraid the strainer arm was going to be too loose to make the strainer useable, but once I tightened up the snare wires it seemed to be stable and worked fine.

Thanks for putting me on the right track, GoneDrumming. Maybe you've had to do this type of repair before?