I noticed the (or one of the) problem(s). If you look at the attached pic, that round, flat piece that has a notch out of it for the post (we're looking at it sideways), I'm not sure if it's supposed to be bent away like that, to our right. You can also see that it doesn't fit tightly around the protruding post. In other words, the cutout for the post has worn too big.
Can someone familiar with this mechanism clue me in to whether I'm on the right track here, and what these parts are called?
Thanks!