R1200GS Saddlebag Maintenance

Someone wrote: "I've owned my R1200GS for about 6 months and the panniers are starting to accumulate road grit making expanding or contracting difficult. The following is a way to clean the two mating surfaces and return the operation to nearly new condition. This is best done in the middle of the living room carpet, in these steps:"

Expand the pannier to its largest size. Remove the 6 large Phillips stainless screws that are on the bike side of each pannier. Note: on '06 (and later?) FJR models these are Torx T20, not Phillips.
Gently pull the two halves apart. Voila ! The gears and complete mechanism are visible. Unless you are a Sadist, don't fiddle with the gears and certainly don't remove the black U shaped lever that makes everything work. (Wonder why I'm telling you this?)
Take an old Finger Lakes rally tee shirt and cut a few strips of cloth. Wrap this around a tongue depressor or similar implement, apply some Armor All and clean out the gunge. I wipe both sides with Armor All as it allows the two surfaces to glide together, but keep Armor All the hell away from the wheels.
When both sides are cleaned, gently re-assemble the 2 halves. It may help if you slide your finger nail down to help join the mating surfaces. It is important that the red lock lever be in the same position, ie. up for open or down for locked.
Don't forget the 6 s/s screws. While the pannier is open pull out the gasket on the lid, and give it a good wipe with Armor All as well.
Sit back and marvel at this engineering wonder and go have a beer.