NH 1630 parking brake cable travel

[tlj87]

I've been looking at some threads related to parking brake problems on the early Boomers. This one has the prawl/teeth more or less lined up (seemed to be an issue for some others). I have adjusted the pedal travel. My next task is to make engaging/disengaging the parking brake easier. It will engage, but I can only pull up on the handle and get about a (really stiff) 3/8-1/2" out of it. The dash light also only comes on sometimes. I've tried to get some Fluid Film sprayed down around the base of the handle, thinking that it might find it's way down along the cable, but no apparent luck. Any suggestions on how to improve the travel of the lever? How far should it move? A new cable assembly from NH is $160!