Brakes on MF-135

I have a MF-50 and MF135 On the MF-50 there are
good brakes I can stop on a dime. On the 135 I have
to stand on the pedals (200 lbs) to have very little
brake effect. The drums are dry no oil and pads are near new no wear. I read in some posts for TE-20 that if the springs are installed wrong place the brakes will not operate properly. Is it same for the 135 ?.

Thanks in advance

Burt-CA

This might not even apply to your situation, but here it is anyway.

I've got a pair of almost identical 135's sitting in my shop. They belong to a father and son who live nearby. They bring both of them to me when they need service. I don't get enough torture working on my own stuff apparently. One has the original brake shoes on it. They're old asbestos linings from the early 70's. The other has (cheap) aftermarket shoes that I had the pleasure of installing last year. The old shoes will still lock a wheel in a turn with not much more than the eight of a foot. The one with the new shoes takes all of my 245 lbs to lock a wheel in my gravel driveway. It's here for another set of shoes. (other one needs new water pump)

They don't make 'em like they used to. They never did.

I looked closer...on the MF-50 there are no return
spring at le lever end near the axle....
On the MF-135 there is a return spring that pull
the rod to return pedals in up position.

After closer look it takes considerable pressure on the pedals just to fight return springs instead of putting all pressure on the brake actuators.

The previous owner may had changed something.
I checked in my two different service manuals and no return springs are listed or illustrated.

I will try to disconnect the return springs and safely try the brakes.

What do you think ?

Thanks for reading !

Bert-CA

I will look as per you suggestions....

Burt-CA