I always grease the threads on the adjuster (star wheel), they have a tendancy to rust and stick. I also adjust the star wheel by hand, so the shoes are tight enough, to just contact the drum, takes a little trial and error. Slip the drum on about and inch or so and try and center the shoes as near as possible. Seat the drum and intially adjust them by sound, you can hear the shoes just slightly rubbing the drum, when turning the drum by hand. With the drum fully seated on the wheel studs (bang the drum left and right a couple of times with the heal of your hand), give it a turn. Should turn (fairly easy), but make a slight rubbing noise.
If the adjusters are way too loose and the shoes don´t grab the drum (with the brakes applied), the adjusters won´t work. The adjusters only adjust in reverse. Back up, hit the brakes, back up hit, the brakes (moderatly hard). If they still won´t adjust, apply a little parking brake, for the first few back and stop cycles.
If they still don´t adjust, the star wheels are frozen or something is hooked up wrong.
If the pedal gets, better after couple of pumps. It´s usually air in the brake cylinders (or lines). I always carefully, unseat the dust cover on the rear brake cylinders (holding a rag underneath). They will often seep a little brake fluid, a sign it´s time for reconditioning the cylinders or replacement.