M_Boats: M23 Rudder Rod Assembly - Hard to raise rudder

Hi All, I was curious if anyone has run into a problem where they have had difficulty raising and lowering their rudder. The last time I had the rudder off the boat, I noticed a very slight bow/bend in the rod. If you laid the rod on a flat surface and rolled it, it looked like a 1/8" or so bow. With the rudder off the boat, I tried sliding the rod through the pintles. The bend/bow created friction when attempting to slide it through the pintles which I am sure is contributing to the problem. Recently, I am really struggling with it. So much so, I often wonder if I can get the rudder up at all. Any suggestions? Do I need a new rod? Thanks for your help, Gerry M23 Dhana