Sticky vee brake arms

Just bunged some V brakes on an old 90s bike. Back brakes are perfect now, but front ones have a sticky arm. The arm with the bolt doesn't seem to want to return to position. I've got them on the springiest hole – weren't much use on the lower settings – and I've tried different cable lengths but once the arm is pulled in it stays pretty tight to the rim.

How do I fix this, or do I just have a duff brake (new but cheap Tektros from Fleabay)? It was harder to get this one on to the brake stud in the first place.

pop the long bit of the spring round from it's stop and bend it out a bit

See on the round shaft bit that the screw goes through, its two seperate parts, the bit the spring is on? Get some lube between the two halves and keep wiggling it. This is a good use for car brake cleaner as it will get in there and shift the crap. Then keep it lubed, even a bit of grease on it to keep mud etc out.

eh? Just screw in the tension screw (to add tension) to the sticky arm – dial out tension on the other side.

^ if not enough tension can be found ^ see bendy spring method

Thanks for all the advice here – I never got a chance to reply as I took the bike on holiday next day. The spring needed a lot of bending and then all was good.

Had this on my Pompino with a set of used XTs

A good soaking in ACF-50 on all parts and LOOSENING OFF both tension screws, changing the pivot hole for the spring nubbin from the middle to the top one and then TIGHTENING up the tension screws slowly to get it right (As there is a huge amount of tension on the wee springs now they are stretched in to the very top setting)