Describe
how they are working?
I'm on my third XS front drum bike prolly 4 thousand miles of riding including rally rides trying to keep up with desmoman. and am quite happy with the brake. It's not a modern disk set up but close to a stock XS front DISK brake in stopping power and feel.
There ARE some tricks to the set up and the factory explanation is (maybe) a bit misleading or can be misinterpreted.
I have firm lever and plenty of room between the lever end and my hand grip even when I have a set of fat soft silicone grips on.
The important point is that you do NOT use the arm between the shoes to adjust out clearance. That arm adjustment is only used when the the backing plate is off the wheel to set and adjust so both cams start camming the shoes out at the EXACT same time. The clearance from shoe to drum is set with the cable end adjusters only. Typically the cable adjuster is going to be out nearer it's maximum range even with new shoes. If with worn shoes you exceed both cable ends adjuster's range you
could reclock both arms on the pivot shaft splines. I have not had to do that.
View attachment 244947
Note (repeat) you are NOT using the balance rod to adjust shoe to drum clearance. That is done with the cable end adjusters.

this first adjustment (best think of it as set up) is best done while the brake is open so you can view the cams acting on the brake shoe ends.
The confusion comes from the manual saying freeplay. They mean freeplay in the
linkage, the arm should not feel loose, floppy, NOT freeplay between the shoes and the drum.
If you do use the double nut rod to set SHOE free play, the brake will feel very mushy, the lever will contact the handlebar before the brake is getting full stopping action. and the cams will be at different angles on the two shoes resulting in miserable brake feel.
View attachment 244948
Would love to have you follow this procedure and report back on your brake action.
I think you CAN set the arm with the brake on the wheel, but it won't be QUITE as precise as being able to SEE the cams start acting on the shoes while you adjust.