Trying to tighten a new brake band on a '47 H

From the archives:

1) It seems that there are some products out there that are just the wrong length - I'm going to compare my right ('passenger') side band (which adjusts up nicely) to this new band and see if it is the same length.

2) Apparently the brake lever arms are different on the L and R hand sides so it's possible I've got a R on my L side - I'll see if I can see the part numbers through the paint tomorrow.

3) It's possible the 'actuator levers' that the band connects to inside the housing (the triangular assembly) can be reversed so I'll check this tomorrow as well.

When I disassembled these brakes, I was pretty careful. I only did one side at a time and made sure everything stayed in the same orientation when swapped or disassembled parts. Someone in an earlier post said, that doesn't mean the guy that went before you didn't put it in backwards so, we'll see. I also have both anti-rider bolts in place at the bottom of both housings and they are adjusted correctly - all the way in, then 1/2 turn out. The new band itself was bent in just the right shape, I don't have the problem of getting it to conform to the drum.

Any other ideas as to what could be causing so much free play in this new brake band? TIA

Do you still have anyone around you who rebuilds brake shoes ? There is an outfit in Minneapolis that was able to put thicker linings on the shoes for my Norton. They do all kinds of brakes, including bands.