Make sure that you remove the air valve assembly if you soak it in lacquer thinner. I don't know if that is what leopold meant or not when he said to remove the "white O-rings" in his post.
I am not sure what Badger airbrush you have but most airbrushes have a needle bearing that is not removable without a special tool.
I would also recommend some Super Lube made by Medea (Iwata) on the needle instead of WD-40 as it is much better.
Mike
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not
to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools
for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know
how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon