[HBR] Locked-up (almost) Eddystone 898 Dial Assembly

[Amargosa Enterprises]

My HBR 20 Eddystone 898 dial, which has been getting progressively harder to turn lately, has finally tightened up where it is now approaching a "frozen" condition.  I have partially dis-assembled the dial in place on the panel to be sure it is the dial and not the tuning capacitor; for better or worse, it is the dial.  Partial dis-assembly in my case still does not allow access to the dial main shaft bearing - I must disconnect and remove everything else off the panel so I can pull it (and the dial) straight up and out for final removal and dial dis-assembly.  Obviously, 40 years ago I did not do the panel/dial layout with sufficient thought to dial gearing maintenance.

I suspect there is nothing wrong with the gearing itself, but that the original lubricant (whatever that might be) is fast drying out and in that process has begun to lock the gearing.

Can anyone tell me - 

   1.  How best to remove the dried-up lube (assuming that is the problem), and if solvent is the answer, what to use and what to avoid ?

   2.  Should application of heat to the dial shaft (for the purpose of loosening any hardened lube) be attempted or avoided ?

   3.  What type of lube works best as a replacement in this application ? 

Any thoughts from some having experience or knowledge of resolving this problem would be most appreciated before I go dive in.

Tnx  W6HHT/Jay