I had this same problem with a
BX2200. Could not resolve it myself doing the same as you did. The shop I took it to put it up on a lift and pryed/wiggled/pulled the thing free and it works fine now. There are 2 basic issues. One is the raising/lowering speed knob and associated "cam" under it. If that is stuck and won't turn that is your primary problem. The other is the raising/lowering overall mechanism limited by your depth knob/control. The depth knob should not be turned EXCEPT when the hydraulics is all the way up -- otherwise you are trying to turn the knob while under the load of the deck (and MANY people have broken off the knob that way, including me!) So get it up where you can work on it, lube the heck out of the cam and lift control mechanism (under the sheet metal under the seat) and persist until you get it loose. Unlikely that anything is really bent, more like "jammed." If you are lucky you will be able to get it unjammed without sheet metal removal (the shop I took mine to was able to do that...) or with less luck you may need to remove enough sheet metal to really get at the problem.