3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside

[thewrai6th]

Every morning I go out to start my truck; if it's below about 40 degrees, I can barely pull the shifter up between R-1. Feels like I'm going to bend or break the shifter.

I tried hitting the column with WD40, no luck there. Tried lubing it up with good old grease and still no luck.

It seems like the metal is getting cold enough to shrink and bind when it freezes overnight. Is there something I can loosen? Tighten? Lube?

My next step was going to be graphite spray.