okay finally got time to do something with the pedal

tried moving the position of the beater, no change it still chattered

then I checked out a pic of the pedal in an old Ludwig catalog and checked my bottom plate against the pic. mine was bent so I straightened it in my vice

put the pedal together and onto the bass drum and every thing was fine

thanks everybody for their help

Kev

So there's one for the memory banks..

Cheers

John

since Ludwig no longer make speed kings it nice know that the knowledge is available here to keep one of the best pedals going

thanks again

Kev