I should make a pair of pot holders too. I used to have a single red pot holder with a sort of pocket that made it very handy, the hand slipped in easily into it and were insulated. I haven't seen any like it for ages, I guess it's one of those things we have to make our self. What type of batting for pot holders?
You have sorted it all out now, but when my old 99 didn't release tension it was cause by very sticky old oil at the bottom behind the face plate. There is a lever tilting back and forth, it has to be clean and only a bit of clean, fresh oil on the metal parts.