Bicycle Mechanics - Adjusting cantilever brakes

Hi- this is my first time posting here. I hope this is the right place to ask a question about brake adjusting. I just bought an almost new Miami Sun trike that has cantilever brakes. The first time I attempted to ride it, it seemed difficult to pedal, so I looked at the brake pads just to be sure that they weren't rubbing the front tire, and sure enough, the one on the right is flat against the tire. I know nothing about bike repair, but I am pretty good at following instructions. I searched the internet, but found nothing on adjusting the brakes on this trike. Getting it to a bike repair shop would be expensive for me, since I would have to hire someone to take it. Can anyone tell me how to adjust the brake pad so that it is not rubbing on the tire? Thanks.

sunshinegator

Moved from Introductions to ensure the OP gets the help they need.

Ok back to the 20 questions.. I suspect the Post is about V/direct pull brakes . *

are the levers on the fork that press the pad against the rim, straight with the pivot at the Bottom?
is there a J bent tube, on one brake, that the cable passes through,
and a cable coming straight across to theother brake arm ?

* Local shop sells Sun and other trikes and that is what is fitted now.

Allen wrench loosens the brake pad itself. and you slide the pad down in the slot
then re tighten it so it touches only the wheel rim..
[some have an external hex, and an internal hex, others an internal hex only.
a set of Metric Allen wrenches should be in your tool kit.. if not you need to get them.]

after loosening it , using the parking brake button on the brake lever,
will hold the pad against the rim and the wheel should not roll .
it will also make tightning the brake shoe bolt better, because the
pad bolt has 4 washers that adjust the angle, and by setting the brake
and then tightening the nut, the pad will sit squarely onto the rim for complete contact.

If the brakes are conventional cantilevers, all the relevant information is here http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/cantilever-brake-service

If they're V-brakes, it's here http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/linear-pull-brake-service-v-brake-type

Thanks for your response fietsbob. Off to get hex tools. :)


Ok back to the 20 questions.. I suspect the Post is about V/direct pull brakes . *

are the levers on the fork that press the pad against the rim, straight with the pivot at the Bottom?
is there a J bent tube, on one brake, that the cable passes through,
and a cable coming straight across to theother brake arm ?

* Local shop sells Sun and other trikes and that is what is fitted now.

Allen wrench loosens the brake pad itself. and you slide the pad down in the slot
then re tighten it so it touches only the wheel rim..
[some have an external hex, and an internal hex, others an internal hex only.
a set of Metric Allen wrenches should be in your tool kit.. if not you need to get them.]

after loosening it , using the parking brake button on the brake lever,
will hold the pad against the rim and the wheel should not roll .
it will also make tightning the brake shoe bolt better, because the
pad bolt has 4 washers that adjust the angle, and by setting the brake
and then tightening the nut, the pad will sit squarely onto the rim for complete contact.

Thanks for the info Airburst. I am bookmarking it. :)