Leaking XJ1100 Air Shocks

[0011mixam]

Well, I spent hours stripping the old clear coat off my 82 XJ1100 air shocks and polishing them to a mirror finish, then I filled them with new oil per the factory OH manual and put on the new boots I bought on EBay and put them back on my freshly painted frame, after which I felt it was time to crack open a beer and admire my handiwork. The very next day I was brought back down to earth when I spotted a pool of oil under the right shock.

Without any air pressure, it's pretty easy to compress these shocks and it looks like there is a wire clip that holds it all together on the inside of the housing around the shaft. I figure I have nothing to lose so I'm going to try taking them apart and see if I can source new seals somewhere.

Has anyone else out there taken these XJ1100 air shocks apart and/or does anyone know where I can buy new seals for them?

[DiverRay]

If you can clean up the seals BEFORE you try to pull them, you may find the size cast into the rubber. I don't know for sure, but it should be in the form of 32mmX10mmX7mm. This is just an example, as I DO NOT know what the size is. IF you have this information, you should be able to cross the seal over at any GOOD auto parts store.
Ray

[0011mixam]

More Questions than Answers

Has anyone out there successfully dismantled an XJ1100 rear air shock? It seems like the circlip and stepped washer on the bottom are only there to hold the seal in and I can't figure out what holds the shock together.

Both of my rear shocks have scoring along the chrome inner shaft, so replacing seals probably won't help, even if I could source some. Does anyone out there have a set of XJ rear shocks that they don't want anymore, even if they leak? I'll pay any reasonable price for them, including shipping to Canada. If I can get some spares, I would consider destroying one (small steps with photos) to see if there is any way to rebuild them. I would post my findings on this forum. It seems to me that someone should be able to re-chrome the inner shaft if there's a way to remove it without trashing the shock (maybe a shop that repairs hydraulic cylinders). I don't want to cut up the ones I have just yet, because I spent a lot of time polishing the aluminum upper cases.

For what it's worth, the seals look like ordinary fork seals. They have a 45 mm ID, a 57 mm OD and are 10.5 mm thick. Maybe there is another bike out there with front fork seals that size.

[John]

I have a good set of XJ11 air shocks for sale. I used them on my XS for years, until I stumbled upon a set of MNS shocks. If you're interseted, PM me.