I have an early two piece brake handle. The release button works fine. My problem is when I pull the handle up to engage the brake, the little crescent shape piece in the handle does not rotate down to mesh with the gear without squeezing my hand down and moving it with my fingers. I took the handle off and lubricated it, the crescent piece moves fine. What is supposed to make it swing and engage the gear?

I took mine apart a while back as I was having a similar issue with it.

The rod that engages the latch mecanism has a little tab welded onto it. Probably the weld let go and the tab isn't there anymore.

HTH

Marc-Andre