So if I'm understanding this correctly:
The elastomeric bearings (installation notwithstanding) have a tendency to accumulate a kind of residual torque, at rest, in the hydraulic system. When the rotors and tail pylon are both folded, the hydraulic system must remain engaged so that the load being put off by the bearings is contained. If the hydraulics are shut down, that load is released, thereby putting the entire flight control system under a compressive load and ultimately putting the control rods under a tensive load.
Some unsuspecting slob like me goes to work on it and (not realizing that the control rods are straining under load) gets beaten bloody when they jerk back around until the bearings have relaxed into their neutral state.
Have I got the jist of this correctly? If so, how do you go about bleeding off the load before you can safely disengage the system?
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Un diva très doué.