Your problem is the manual close, obviously something is blocking the handle...next time go electric. In the meantime, I suggest soaking the middle finger of your left hand in a glass of ice water for about three minutes, then attempt to quickley insert it in the small aperature located directly below the upolstered slit in the protruding (well rounded) blockage, you should hear a shrill scream followed by a rapid extraction of the blockage, with your right hand quickley activate the manual closure device in a counter clock wise direction ...works every time. Of course there are several other more interesting options to, eventually, remove the blockage...
