sounds like you could use some penetrating oil such as WD 40 on the mechanism to start off with. If that frees it up, then alpply a little grease and crank it back and forth till it opperates smoothly. There are many different styles of this arrangment for opening windows, you may need to photograph it and send a copy over for me to be able to tell you how to take it appart, and if indeed it is the kind that is serviceable