Tandem Cycling - Friction shifter hard to move

We just bought a Trek T200 that has bar end shifters--indexed on the cassette, friction for the rings.
I took it out today by myself and decided to shift to the big ring. The lever was really hard to move! I got it moved and it seemed to shift fine--up and down--but it was just really tough moving it.
Is this normal? The indexed side was fine--a little weird to get used to since this is my first bike with dropped bars.
Are friction shifters just much harder to move than their indexed cousins? Is this an easy adjustment or should it go in to the LBS for an adjustment. I probably need to take it in anyway to have it set up / fit for us and have them give it a once-over. But, I want to learn to do my own mechanical work as much as possible. We have visions of some short-range touring on this thing somewhere down the road and I don't want to be stuck on the side of a road somewhere because of something that would be an easy fix if I had only learned how to do it.
Thanks

There is screw on the shifter - just loosen it a tiny bit. It sounds like it is just screwed down a little tight. It needs to be fairly tight but you can adjust it a little bit.

There is screw on the shifter - just loosen it a tiny bit. It sounds like it is just screwed down a little tight. It needs to be fairly tight but you can adjust it a little bit.

I assumed as much. I was just afraid of screwing something up. Get it--screw something up!!

Never mind....

Thanks, I'll try that.

There is screw on the shifter - just loosen it a tiny bit. It sounds like it is just screwed down a little tight. It needs to be fairly tight but you can adjust it a little bit.

Okay, so last night I tried to loosen the screw. No go. The screw was easy to loosen but it had no effect on the lever. So I am assuming this is going to be an adjustment or cable issue. Both of these are beyond my level of expertise so it's off the the LBS.
...Unless anyone else has a suggestion...

Okay, so last night I tried to loosen the screw. No go. The screw was easy to loosen but it had no effect on the lever. So I am assuming this is going to be an adjustment or cable issue. Both of these are beyond my level of expertise so it's off the the LBS.
...Unless anyone else has a suggestion...
Just like most things in life if it's too tight try a little lube before resorting to professional help.;)

Could very well be that the cable/housing need replacement.

Lube the cable, especially where it leaves the shift lever at the handlebar. A bit of vaseline/lube on that piece of cable can help. You can also loosen that screw a bit near the lever and squirt in some lube or even WD 40.
See if cable is frayed anywhere or hanging up in the cable housing.