Air ride shocks - what's inside them?

[binge]

Hello everyone. It's been a while.
Been racking my brains on where I can get this info, hoping there may still be some technical members still active on here.

Been rebuilding my little Honda Chaly (Again). And I've got to a point where I want to set up the suspension.
It's on a bagger kit which is designed for a Harley. It all fits and works well, however, I don't need it to extend to the full height it's capable off, and at its lowest, I'd like it a little lower if poss. That way, when it's lowered to a 'level' point, there will still be air in the shocks.
At the moment, when it's sat level, the shocks are empty. = Essentially hard tailed. Not my thing. 😆

So my question is, the bottom section of the shocks, is there likely to be oil and a damper in there? Or can I cut the bottom section open, remove 15/20mm of material and weld it back up?

Pics attached (hopefully).

[Nobby the Bastard]

The air is the 'spring' so there must be some sort of damping in there. Id imagine it's oil.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Pete.]

If it has a filling point to let you put air in it I would Let the air out and drill a small hole in the section you want to cut off and pump any oil out. That way if it turns out to be unfeasible you can weld/drill and tap the hole back up and think of something else.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Robby]

If fiddling with the shock is a no-go, can you do anything about the mounting points or flip the swingarm over?

[binge]

The theory of the air being the spring is how I was thinking. There must be a 'dampener' somewhere.
They air up and down via a small compressor on the bike, so they can be emptied of air comletely.

I'll give the small hole trick a try Pete. Other than the air line inputs, they are completely sealed units. Can't even unbolt them to rebuild them or anything.

Robby, I poked around at that option. the mounting points on the frame cant be moved really. Swing arm side of things, I thought about making some relocation brackets to bring shocks further back, in turn, making the shocks reach further, which would lower the bike.

Although the ultimate solution would be to cut a section out of those lower shock bodies.

Small hole and snap on camera may be the only option.

[binge]

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/71910470_163743411477982_6024951260648570880_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQmT93UweXOd2_bI0ZnsJrbLMPwAViCAIS02dLxiB8_NMZJawXmVUbl1ZB9IWXl2ZmU&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=d9dc126b88dd3da7777b85ed7db66429&oe=5E28D190

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/71674258_163743374811319_4524745203067650048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_oc=AQkZ5EW26kfS0Co_Nbrg6YQNGOeb0VWJfTJA9WiatHQsGwBH7fSgjdWQDbsHoLVZBRw&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=ae3575b309c10b02089974a612ebffc2&oe=5E2955AC

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/71695294_163743354811321_6971567777878376448_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQlUoi__7zuwyV62VOlJVPq8xa7f-2bPRvF225mDcU0LQGtyucoV-hNrNcM5Zg-s4Ak&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=db7f16489c428a1476e1b7d1b72f623f&oe=5DF9976A

[stinkwheel]

I don't know what's in them either. I'm just sluightly concerned there might be a pressurised nitrogen gas damper in there. That would probably spoil your day if you drilled into it.

Probably not though, just be careful.

I wonder if they are similar to these car ones, which have a helpful cutaway diagram on their website.

https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/airspring/
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Pete.]

Looking at that cutaway in Stinky's link I would re-consider cutting the bottom tube. It probably is the oil damper and will undoubtedly ruin the shock.

An alternative would be to cut the mounting lug off the shock and re-locate it to alongside the tube, increasing the tube angle and reducing the ride height. Changing the angle will have the effect of making the shock slightly 'softer' which I suspect would be desirable given the weight difference of the donor bike and the Chaly.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good