Wow, again this is all from memory and my memory sucks. IIRC there is a thumbwheel on either the top or bottom of the controller that adjusts the braking power. The lever in front is for manual application of the brakes. My advice? Ditch it all and go to one of the current inertia based controllers. Judging from the damage to the paint on the controller I'm guessing it's leaking and probably is on its last legs if if works at all. Again, IIRC, when you apply the brakes the lever should move to the right. If not, it is shot. There are some things whose time has come and gone, this is one of them.