I just purchased a new project. This is an old military issue forklift.
72' Baker FJF-040 SN:73303
Pneumatic tires, flat head 4 cylinder Continental motor. I think it is in relatively good shape overall and I am having a fun time bringing it back to usefulness.

From reading the boards it looks like brake issues are rather common and that is the case for this machine. I took off the dual front tire. The tire is mounted to the secondary axle (or so I assume). There were a series of allen head bolt on the head of the axle and removing them freed up the break drum (free but still trapped by axle) but how do I get the axle out to work on the pads?

From the assy diagram available in the military manual it appears like the axle might be held on by a nut from the other side of the gear reducer housing but there is just a flat plate there with no nut. Maybe I just need to pull real hard? My only remaining option is to crack open the gear reducer housing by removing a series of bolts that go around its perimeter.

Before I do a forehead slap as I realize that I did it the wrong way I was hoping someone here has done this procedure before and can offer some advice. All brake advice would be appreciated (anyone with a service manual, even better)

BTW, when I freed the brake drum, redish fluid flowed out. It looked like automatic trans fluid to me but I'm no pro. Not sure if there is red brake fluid or maybe it was rust. Outside chance someone put the wrong fluid in the brakes.