The release is probably just dry and dirty. What you need to do is get some carburator cleaner and squirt it down good. Let it soak about 5 minutes than squirt it again. The cleaner will flush out any accumulated gunk and oil. Shake the release out good and let it dry. Then squirt it down good with a silicone spray lube. Silicone lube won't attract dirt and gunk or gum up in cold weather like WD40 or oil will.

It oughta work like a champ again.

A little maintenance from time to time generally makes mechanical contraptions work a lot better.