Chuck WD-40 ("Water Displacement, 40th try") was invented right here in san diego by a solvent company, who set out to invent a line of "rust prevention solvents and degreasers."
If WD-40 is not a degreaser, then you'd better send a letter to the WD-40 company and let them know it, because they must be mistaken on their website where they describe the invention of their own product:
http://www.wd40.com/
They are lucky to have an expert like you to straighten them out in regards to their company history ... :-) :-)
The internals of earlier campagnolo N.R. shifters include a brass domed washer for lubrication. You must not lube either side of this washer, nor lub the wingnut, or it will self-loosen as you shift. You need to remove all grease and lube from these parts, and I recommend a degreaser such as WD-40 to accomplish this task. Ooops, there I go again.
Chuck is right, i believe, that you _can_ lubricate between the lever and the boss, but this is the only place you can lubricate in these shifters, and be careful not get grease anywhere else.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA