After finding widely differing leftside/rightside weight difference I thought: what could be causing that? Since there was no spring per se, it could be either designed in, a twist in the frame (unlikely in a new, never used unit), or tire pressure. So I measured: they were 20.5/17.
Setting the pressures of both tires to 17, I remeasured. Weight changed from 138/51 to 110/80 (these are inexpensive same model bathroom scales not a top of the line set from Longacre).
What tire pressures are typical?