Thanks Sawworcs, you are dead on. I adjusted the free play yesterday and everything works as it should.
I could not find detailed information about adjusting the free play and Branson operators manual was useless For anyone with the same problem, I discovered that the adjustment is quite easy. Remove the gray cover on the left side that holds the light switch. Use the stopper bolt to limit the upward travel of the clutch pedal so that it does not come up and hit the cover when reinstalled. Disconnect the turnbuckle from the clutch pedal arm and depress the clutch pedal to the desired free play of say 3/4" to 1" and with the pedal depressed you can observe how far to adjust the turnbuckle to get the proper free play.
Make the turnbuckle adjustment, reconnect it and recheck it. I do not think that the amount of free play is critical as the Branson manual says from .1" to 1.4" and I have seen recommendations from 5/8" to 1.25".