I oiled the bed when I oiled under the faceplate. I'm sure I did it a few years when I got this machine, too. I have not taken the round plate off and oiled in that area. Because the machine is heavy and near a wall, I guess I missed it. (When I did my 128, the cover fell into the machine and it had to stay there until my son came along to turned the machine up side down and shake the cover out - that was a heavy little machine).
My hands aren't terrible - I do have good supplements and and a wonderful massage therapist. They are jut 76 years old with several varieties of arthritis. I actually am very fortunate that they are as usable as they are.
Okay, off to remove the round plate. Thank you, everyone.