I'd not tried the Wingard crank antenna since we purchased the 2720SL a few years ago and when I did, it was very stiff. I was afraid the crank handle would snap, so I decided to take it apart and lubricate it. It made an incredible difference and did not take more than 30 minutes. The place needing most lubricant was the shaft attached to the handle which could only be lubricated by pulling it out first.
See attached link for an excellent video another author posted on how to disassemble and lubricate with silicone spray.
Hope this is helpful for others.
Pat