On the Bell 47 D1's that I fly, the cyclic friction is a knurled ring on the vertical portion of the stick. Unfortunately, this means that unless the friction is wound completely off, gravity and the engine vibration will cause the ring to wind itself down.
I therefore fly with small amounts of collective friction but zero cyclic.
A couple of times, having been in the cruise, I have found it an effort to make a course change because the friction has decided to make life interesting for me.
Now if the smelly stuff had interfaced with the air circulatory device and I had to take immediate and positive avoiding action, I'm sure that the friction would have been easily overcome by the adrenalin but it is now something that I make a habit of checking at regular intervals.
LM