This is only somewhat related. In the Army we had to maintain the hoists on hydraulic cranes.

2 times a year, we pulled the entire cable out, wire brushed all the old grease and debris off. Then we re-applied wheel bearing type grease to the cable with a paint brush. Just a thin layer. Most of the cranks that I have seen have a zurk fitting somewhere near the handle. Sometimes they are on the inside of the cable housing, opposite the handle.