[ktriebol]

So you're saying the front right is the one that will not retract? If hydraulic brakes will not retract on one particular wheel, it may mean that the flexible brake hose at that wheel has collapsed. When a hose collapses, it allows hydraulic fluid and pressure to be transmitted to the wheel cylinder when brakes are applied, but when the brakes are released, the hose collapses and won't allow the fluid to relieve.

 

[ktriebol]

If you're saying that the front left is the one with the problem, it doesn't appear that way to me. The wheel cylinder is attached to both the front and rearward shoes, so when you retract the brake, only the shoe that moves most easily will be the one to retract. The other shoe won't move, but there shouldn't be any force exerted between that shoe and the drum. When you retract the brake, can you move the front brake shoe away from the drum by hand? If so, there's no problem. That's normal.

 

[ktriebol]

I would say your left front brake is working normally, even though it is showing some uneven wear. As long as the wheel cylinder can move in and out, and the brake shoes pivot freely on their pivot points, that's about all you can ask for.

The difficulty you are having getting the drum off on the right side is not unusual on older machines. Maybe someone will chime in with tricks they have learned for getting drums off. The drum is probably packed with rust and crud which inhibits movement of the shoes both ways. Once you do get the drum off, inspect the pivot points for the shoes to make sure they are free.

 

[ktriebol]

If you are thinking of installing a wheel cylinder that appears similar to the one on your machine, consider that the piston diameter may be a little different than your old one. This will cause the braking force to be different from one wheel compared to the other. Changing the wheel cylinder on both wheels should keep your braking force balanced.