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After you get it back together, axle nut tight and pinned, etc to adjust the brake:
Be SURE the parking brake is OFF, not set, disengaged. Then tighten the adjuster until
it is fairly tight. Turn the brake drum (if you can) and then get your 3# hammer
and hammer around the OD of the brake drum in 5 or 6 places fairly firmly.
You will probably be able to turn the brake drum after this, but if not, loosen the adjuster
until you can. Turn the drum back and forth maybe 90° each way 3 or 4 times, and then
tighten the adjuster again, just until you feel it fairly snugly against the drum
(stiff to turn). Then go around it with the hammer again. If the brakes are freer now,
tighten a little more and hammer again. What you are doing is getting the arcs of the shoes
centered in the arc of the brake drum. Once it doesn't get any looser on hammering,
tighten it good and tight, then loosen just enough that you feel some drag when you turn the wheel.
Do the same on the other rear wheel. Then adjust the brake cable until the brake applies
in about 3 or 4 clicks. Should release fully so you get the same slight drag you got
before.
The hammer trick has saved me a LOT of time in readjusting.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma
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