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Al, May suggest that first you make sure there is not oil in your brakes. This is a COMMON occurance in the pre '52 8N's. I've got one that I need to clean out. Unless your tires are loaded, it is easy to take them off. Then the drum comes off by removing four (I think - CRS, 'ya know!) screws. I have "washed" mine - several times (don't ask!) - with gas and they work fine until oil gets in them again. Wipe all off that you can with a rag/paper towels/etc. first, of course. Let them air dry an hour or so. I some times rough up the surface a little when they are clean with fine sandpaper like a 400 grit, just for good measure. Some guys will say that the oil penitrates the brake lining and it will NEVER come out. That may be true, but my philosphy is, if they got oily they are probably going to get oily again before they wear out, unless you work hard to be sure the diff. oil is sealed - HARD to do from what I know/have learned from reading the board for 4 years. Get the surface good and clean and for the slow speeds of the N, you will do OK. You should ALWAYS be careful with an N when you are in a situation that needs GOOD brakes - REGARDLESS! For Tom White... A brake spoon is an OLD time mechanics tool for adjusting the brakes. They were used a lot when the brakes needed adjusting manually. The brake spoon is sort of like a screw driver without the handle - all steel with a angled blade on each end. I also seem to remember a slight hook in the round portion just before it was flatened out for the blade. On one end the "blade" was angled more that the other end. The different angles allowed the spoon to reach the adjuster from different cars. Some times one would be OK to tighten BUT you would have to use the other end to loosen when you got too tight. Regards,
Larry
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