boom gooseneck ideas

[Coquina]

Just found this thread while searching for info on freeing up my worm gear driven bronze roller boom gooseneck. I believe it's a Merriman Bros. and it's been seized for as long as we've owned Coquina - this is our 6th winter with her. I don't know if the previous owners ever used the roller boom to reef the main. There's one set of reef points in the main and we've used that without any problem but I single-hand a lot and it'd be handy to have this working or I'd rig a jiffy-reef system instead. Coquina is an 1962 S&S design "Lotus" class sloop, 28.5', mahogany planked on yacal frames. Lots of Merriman hardware that's working well on deck.

I've tried soaking with penetrating oil and judicious mechanical persuasion with no change. I'm thinking heat next but not sure if it's safe for the bronze.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Mike