When a center draft wick in an oil lamp won’t move freely, it is usually because it has been dry for a long period and the wick fibers are stuck to the draft tube.
If the wick won’t move freely using the wick raiser, do not attempt to force it. If you do force it, there is a strong likelihood that you will damage the wick raising mechanism and it may not be possible to repair it.
In the majority of instances, all that is needed to free up the center draft wick is to break the bond between the wick and the tube.
The following steps will guide you through the process.