I use Berryman Chemtool B-12 as a cleaner and Tri-Flow as an assembly lubricant.  Lock your needle nose ViseGrips onto the lifter body and pull it from the cam follower.  It may be quite a tug to get it out if the retaining clip (next photo) is gummed up.

Here is the retaining clip.  Notice the black muck draining from the cam follower.

Put the cam follower into your solvent sink and let it wash while you continue...

Separate the lifter into the two component assemblies with a spring in the middle.

Be very careful as you remove the ball cap with your needle nose pliars.  The spring-tempered metal of the cap is thin so don't squeeze too hard as you grip it.  Note just how TINY the ball and inner spring are with the Dime as a reference!

Soak all the parts with B-12 and scrub them clean; I use Q-Tips.

Ready for assembly...

Stack the spring into the cap and the ball on top.

Invert the cap assembly and stack it on the inner cylinder.

Use a solid material to "snap the cap" into position.  You should feel a nice metallic "click" as the cap seats home.  (It may be easier to stack the cap-spring-ball assembly face-up and snap the cylinder "down" on top; less parts to juggle?)

Stack the outer spring over the cap assembly and lube with TriFlow.

Notice the shiny ring inside the cam follower resulting from the inner cylinder riding in contact during operation.

Lube the retaining ring and assemble the lifter into the cam follower.

When you complete the assembly, test the lifter's operation; you should feel a smooth, spring-loaded response when you compress the lifter into the cam follower.

All your cleaning will remove the label you created upon disassembly.  Re-mark the cam follower (I include a "period" to remind myself the component is ready for final assembly.)

Thanks to everyone on this forum; you've already taught me lots!

John Bouyea aka G10HIO