Let me share a little secret trick that might work. Carbon Paste. This is the stuff that bike mechanics use in slip joints (seat posts/stems) so that the parts have enough friction to bind properly without over-torque (carbon-fiber parts are fragile in that regard). I use carbon paste on full-metal slip joints sometimes.

One might take a q-tip by the bike shop and ask them for a smear of carbon paste. Or they might give you a "sample" sized packet. Or they may be hardballers and sell you a whole container.

Or you can "borrow" that technology and add a little "slurry" to your rust preventative oil and dab that into the friction area.

I had one recently that tightened up beautifully, then got wet, so i oiled the pivot, then it "got loose" so I re-peened, it went crooked, then i had to heat it, etc. It was a battle i should have carbon-pasted!