AWC: The answer is....you dont. Those strainers are nothing more than the most basic, cheapest up and down levers. There really isnt anything you can do, they just arent quality components.

The best track is to replace the strainer with a new one with smooth action. On my 1963 Pearl Valencia, I replaced the crappy strainer with one that not only works great, but had the same hole displacement so I did not have to drill any new holes on the shell, which was a major thing for mine because the shell is so thin.

I recommend you do the same. I think you'll be happy. Try drumfactorydirect.com for some great replacement strainers at a great price.

I agree with the previous post.The throw is just not far enough to drop the snares so they don't buzz.If you are planning to use an MIJ on a regular basis,replace the throw mechanism with a well made replacement.By the way,straight up and down parallel to the side of the drum is the loosest point for the snares,and the bottom pivoting out tightens the snares.Other American versions of this mechanism throw further,eliminating buzz.

Greetings from the grave....so to say. One of the first things, on this drum, is there are NO snare beds, I'm willing to bet. You should tear it down and hand cut, with sandpaper, some beds about 1/8" to 3/16" deep. After tat, if you figure out how the strainer works, you can keep it. As for using a replacement, I do it on almost all of my old MIJ snares, unless it is a very rare type I can repair. Retro is correct in telling you to replace it. The type you have is very difficult to do anything with, once it is worn out. If this was used for a real player, then it will need to be replaced. If you are not averse to dilling, then any replacement will work. If, on the other hand you don't want to drill, this is a Star and you may well need to make an adapter plate. Good luck with it. The color is called "Fibre Gold" btw.

If you have removed this strainer, it is a bear to get it back to original position. It has to be cranked all the way down when re-installed, then backed out until you see it is in "the zone"...if you mess with it long enough, you see what I mean by the zone. A PITA to work on, but once you figure it out, a simple devise, really.

Where you Jonnyistix ?

....where is the lever? I don't see a throw arm, is it missing? This may well be why you have no working distance.

Thanks for the advice, guys - I was afraid the solution would be a new strainer...I'll go pick one up at a boxing sale I guess.

One my other MIJ snare, I can juuuuust make it work, but it's still kind of a piece of crap.

And there is a handle there on the strainer, but it's an improvised one. (it's a long bolt with a gold-colored head, you can just see the tip of it, sort of.) I've emailed Mikey a few times about getting replacement parts, but I never heard from him...

And Jonni this one actually DID have snare beds - I was surprised too. My other one didn't, and I sanded them in following your directions, but this one had them, not sure if they were done by the shop/factory or a previous owner, but they looked pretty clean.

Hi awc830 and friends!

I just posted a "Gracy Drums Yet Again" thread, and on my new "find" the strainer is just like this one, except there is no throw lever at all. It looks just like yours, but there is one on each side (exact same thing is where the butt plate would normally be). Odd for sure! Let me know how you go about using yours or what you replace it with.

Look at the pic of this strainer, not exactly the same but should work the same. I know this sounds dumb, but it it possible that the part that the snares tie to is installed on the side that the lever should be on? If you could turn these around (don`t know without have the part in my hand) then, reverse the hoops I think it will work. follow me? The way it is now, I don`t see that working at all. The adjustment knob should not be on the same side of the pivot point as the snare tie. Hope this helps,Tommy

No, unfortunately it doesn't work that way - I can't turn it around.

That is definitely the right configuration...I just think that mine is probably not a very good quality strainer, as said above...