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It appears that you are starting out on the right foot with a HiLo that is in good shape. For the cables, wipe them clean with a rag and then apply a lubricant that does not attract a lot of dirt. There is a gun lube that you can get at Walmart that meets that requirement, I can't think of its name, maybe someone will post that here. **You must always clean and lube the guide rod that parallels the hydraulic cylinder.** The guide rails can be lubed with clear silicon spray, or you can rub on some paraffin.
If you haven't already, watch the video manual to get a general idea of the HiLo maintenance:
http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/...-youtube-1233/
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