John---Since the hand brake is purely mechanical there should be no
reason that fluid needs to be present in the lines.
I have seen the way I adjust the hand brake in print by others in
several publications, but since I've done this for about a hundred
years, I feel that I can pass this on without mentioning the other
sources.
With both rear wheels off the ground and the tranny out of gear, pull up
the hand brake from rest about 6 'clicks'. Adjust one rear brake until
it locks the wheel from turning. Release the hand brake, and the wheel
that you just adjusted should now turn. Pull the hand brake up six
clicks again. Adjust the other wheel till it won't turn. Release the
hand brake. This wheel should now turn. (It may drag slightly, but no
matter.)
Now when you pull up the hand brake from the rest position it will
probably click about 8 or 9 times and both wheels should lock, as you
would want in a parking situation. How well these parking brakes hold
seems to depend on where the stars are, so it's best not to rely solely
on them in a hilly situation.
Dick T.
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