Bicycle Mechanics - Salt build Up.

Due to not wearing gloves, and the nature of bar end shifters on a TT bike, my dura-ace shifters have build up salt inside. I wipe them down after rides as best I can but I think the insides of the shifters are gunked up pretty badly and are very difficult to shift. Is there any household product I can get to break up the salination inside the shifters or do I need to take it to the LBS?

I'd just give it a thorough spraying with WD-40. And cut back on the KFC.

I'd just give it a thorough spraying with WD-40. And cut back on the KFC.

It's the summer in Florida with 99% humidity. You can't not sweat. But thanks for the wd-40 advice.

It might be a good idea to flush them out with clean water to dissolve the salt, then WD-40 to displace the water, then a light teflon lube to finish.

It might be a good idea to flush them out with clean water to dissolve the salt, then WD-40 to displace the water, then a light teflon lube to finish.

Agreed, I have often used WD-40 to unstick shifters, but as it is also something of a solvent, I always follow it up with a lube.

For those small moving parts, a light oil like the stuff made for the tiny parts of brass instruments
might work really well.

When did you last replace your cables? The first strands to break are usually up inside the bar end shifters where you won't see them and makes it much harder to shift. I replace mine annually, but if it's a TT bike used sparingly you might get by with more.