Another essential pretreatment that I forgot to mention, for elastomer/rubber bits, is to give them a good dousing with 'Armor-All' standard formula; doing that about a week before you try to move them has worked for me.
I've also given flexible hoses that treatment; e.g. a Macnaught 'Litre Stroke' fuel transfer pump 25mm delivery hose, and my oxy/LPG setup's bonded twin hose, with complete success.
Just had to cut off the end bits, that had exhibited cracking prior to getting 'the treatment'.
