Is it possilbe to make a manual switch into a remote switch. (left with a 18 radius curve)

I was sent this unit as a replacement to another replacement 0-6-0 that was hesitating badly last year.  Now this one is doing the same thing and screeching when it is moving.  All my other locomotives work fine, so I don't think it's the track.  Any thoughts about causes of the two problems, (something to lub, etc)?