Trolling motor shaft question

[SWAMP FOX]

I have a Minn Kota Power Drive V2 with Auto Pilot. It has a 54" shaft. I have been having trouble getting it to deploy. It seems like the shaft hangs up in the housing. I can't get it to deploy by myself. I have to hold the release lever up while someone else pulls on the motor to get it to free enough to swing down into position. This is not a good thing because I fish alone most of the time and having another person to assist ain't always an option. I was thinking about maybe greasing the shaft but I don't know if that's the way to go. Any help/thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

["G"]

MinnKota reccomends keeping the shaft clean and regularly spraying it down with Armorall to make it slick.