Dis-assembled the planetary drives on the front wheels to get at the inboard drum brakes, turns out the problem was both the return springs for the brake shoes on one axle were broken, causing the brake to intermittently lock itself up. Couldn't find springs anywhere so i had to heat and refit the ends some i found at the parts house to get it back together and off my hoist. Definitely wasn't an OSHA approved job , i had the front end of the forklift about a foot off the ground from chains on my overhead hoist lifting from the mast, with wood blocks under it just for 'safety'....
These things are a pain in the ass to work on, everything is heavy as hell, low to the ground, hard to get at..... blew my upper back out putting it back together .... it's all working good again.
Andy B. PM me your buddy's number anyway, i may need something in the future, always good to keep it within the board :thumbup: