Removing a Columbia cylinder mandrel

[JerryVan]

In the meanwhile, have yuou tried putting some oil in the two oil holes I see in the end cover?

Not yet! I might give each a tiny shot of WD40 and let it sit for a few days before trying again... very cautiously.

WD-40 is a poorly-refined fish oil in a naphtha carrier. It is NOT a lubricant, I repeat it is NOT a lubricant. It is a rust-preventer. After the naphtha rapidly evaporates, the fish oil oxidizes and becomes gummy. Not what you want.

Not true. From WD-40's website...

"WHAT A FISH STORY!
Myth: WD-40 Multi-Use Product contains fish oil.

Fact: Consumers have told us over the years that they have caught some of the biggest fish ever after protecting their fish hooks and lures with WD-40 Multi-Use Product . We believe this legend came from folks assuming that the product must contain fish oil since it appears to attract fish. Sorry Charlie®, it just ain’t so.

WD-40 Company has taken steps to respect and conserve the environment, and encourages its users to do the same. While WD-40 Multi-Use Product can be used to help protect fishing equipment from rust and corrosion, WD-40 Company does not recommend using WD-40 Multi-Use Product to attract fish."

[Morell1]

I've generally found WD-40 helpful when I have to loosen screws or other parts that are seized with rust or old oil. I then clean those parts and lubricate them (if appropriate) with sewing machine oil, gun oil, or various types of modern machine grease, depending on the part. I never use WD-40 as a long-term lubricant.