Miriam,
I've not taken one out yet. To lazy I guess. I clean the hand wheel gear, the motor shaft gear, and the area around it.
Then I run it up without the hand wheel in it and listen to it. After that the hand wheel goes back on, the gears get greased, the couple drops of oil dropped on the top bearing, let it soak a bit, and I put the power to it slowly. Then run it. I've found it also needs heat with the oil to get in the top bearing and soften up the old grease.
It can be done either way. I just leave it in.
Joe