Zip Dee Z-lock lever is stuck

[aname4me]

I bought my 1988 Excella in the Fall. I live in the Northern Ontario and Spring is finally coming. I was trying to open the Awning today. I have never done this before. I can't seem to pull the Zip Dee Z-lock lever down. I REALLY don't want to break it. I can't say when it was last opened.
Do I "lube it" or pull really hard?
I did unscrew the Clamp Wheel, but it was very stuff. I had to use Channel Lock pliers.
Like I said.... I REALLY don't want to break it.

[newroswell]

Lube it for sure before you pull really hard. Try a dry spray lubricant. It may be bound up, and sometimes wiggling the places that are suppose to slide will help more than brute force.

[Lumatic]

I suspect you broke a gear tooth. Wiggle the bugger back and forth and if you are lucky you can dislodge the broken tooth. If you have a broken tooth it will probably get stuck again. You can get a new lease on life by taking the Z lock apart and rotating the gear to expose new teeth. Whatever you do be really, really careful if the roller spring is tensioned. It's a bone breaker.

[Melody Ranch]

Call Zip Dee. They are great to help out on the phone.

[aname4me]

Success.... I sprayed it with a oil twice yesterday and again this morning, then several minutes of back and forth tugging.

Thanks for your advice. It is comforting to know there is a help network out there.