[Is this an unusable wheel head? Please help me]

12 hours ago, oldlady said:

what are you referring to when you say "handle"?

I mean the foot pedal and manual governor lever are a bit hard and wonder what I can do to make it looser?

[Is this an unusable wheel head? Please help me]

15 hours ago, Russ said:

That is a perfectly good used wheelhead.  You could clean it up a bit with some steel wool.

Thank you. I will try and see what happens. I also read that a bit of oil and foil aluminum might help - thoughts?

 

[Is this an unusable wheel head? Please help me]

Hello, 

I am considering to buy a second hand Shimpo pottery wheel. It is from 2003. 
I checked it out and found the wheel head had dried clay not removed properly from the previous owner and some scratches and a bit rough surface. 
I wonder if I have to replace it or is it okay to throw clay on it? Treatments? 
Also, the handle became harder. Advise to make it softer? 
Thanks,