Dragerneil

The other place these can leak is if the washer at the base of the lever is defective. This was the problem the only time I had a leak.

You say that you have taken it to pieces and greased it, but that it is still stiff. Mine can all be operated easily. One trick when taking apart is to put it in a freezer. The metal inner shrinks more than the plastic outer so it more or less falls out. Can use this trick when rebuilding so as not to displace any of the O-ring material.

Hope you get sorted.

Neil