Steve, this past spring, after being in Florida a year, I had to remove my FEL for the first time - I had to destroy 3 of the 4 female connectors on my valve to get the hoses disconnected!!! Seems they oxidized (rusted) under the sliding sleeves and some of the balls had rusted badly too - externally the connectors looked fine. After spending about $75 for new ones, I used antisieze compound under the sleeves and the balls when I put it back together. I would strongly recommend you get a small jar of it - I use the Permatex aluminum type, they also make a copper type, either one is OK. Pull the sliding collar back and dope it up good and all the balls too while the collar is held back. I also did the male ends, around the groove that the balls catch in, but I was reassembling mine at the time. For storage, some grease would work OK too. The antiseize compound holds up to heat a little better - won't melt off in use as quick as grease would. I do all my lugs with it too, and most any other external bolts or nuts. I agree on the grease for the cylinder rods. Shouldn't have any problem with the pistons as long as you didn't lose fluid from the cylinders - they should be fully immersed in hydraulic oil as is.
