Libelle Control Stick

I moved my annual up for my Libelle 201b from June to this past weekend. who the heck wants to take their ship down in the middle of prime time soaring?

Anyways, Over the years of sweat touching the control stick it has began to rust and I need to take it apart and bead blast and prime/paint it..

We tried taking out the stick by removing the two flat head screw drivers but we think the sweat has gotten into the coupler that holds the control stick to the rest of the linkage.

Are there any current or past Libelle owners on this fourm? Preferably someone who has removed the control stick on a 201. was it difficult like mine is, if so how did you get it out?

I tried doing some layers of mouse milk but I feel as if even that isn't a thin enough lubricant.

Please let me know.. many thanks!