IowaPlinker, sorry you're dealing with that. Sometimes the detent points are pretty sharp and engage with a little too much authority. It'll usually work itself in. I also recommend a really light lube. Like Hornady One-Shot lube and gun cleaner. I spray some right between the collar and detent ring. That's pretty much it for maintenance. If you get a lot of dust in there, the collar, detent ring, and spring can be removed and cleaned.
To do this, you need to pull back on the detent to get the pressure off the collar. Then you can spin it. Each rotation, you'll need to pull back the detent ring a bit so the stops can pass each other without catching.
It goes together simply too. Spring, then detent ring, then collar. Tighten the collar on until it touches the detent ring, then it's usually two turns. Ensure the start/stop faces are against each other. If you turn it a third time, you shouldn't be able to turn it far enough to go all the way around. It'll be super stiff too. Just turn it back to the start/stop point and you're there.
While the detent ring is off, you can buff down or sand those detent points a little if you're comfortable doing it. That can soften things up. If not, send it in our Customer Service guys and they'll make sure it's turning smoothly.
Those detents are just insurance. The real locking action is in the taper on the mount.
Todd Magee
Dead Air Engineering