Good for you. Yes, it is fiddly to get it back together properly. I think it took me a couple (or more) tries to hold everything in the right position and the spring made it difficult to line everything up.
Good idea to keep oiling and keep trying. I don't remember the dead spots, but I think I always used the hand wheel to start so that I knew it was going in the right direction and not make bobbin nests of thread.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.