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You can disassemble them, HD had a performance spring upgrade kit they sold for that style. That reservoir style is for the first of the softails, 84 to at least 87 (I don't know exactly the last year without looking it up). If you take off the reservoir, I don't think they will work, (you won't have a decent charge) but I've never has a set like that apart. I would just get new aftermarket shocks if you can find them. The issue is that you need ones that will work with the early softails. I just sold an old set of progressives last year that would have been perfect for you. The only way to raise the bike is the shorten the shock. That style you have is not adjustable.
Those are 84-88 softail shocks...no company makes a full size replacement for them.
If you use 89-up shocks they will hit the transmission mount, and have been known to break the shock mounting bolts.
You can use small body softail shocks...only 2 company's make them.
Ultima makes some cheap ones that are adjustable...the ride is barely OK solo...they suck 2-up.
Works makes some great ones...but plan on selling a kidney to buy some.
While your bike is an Evo it is worth calling in the Softail section, to see if those chaps have any useful info. Your shocks operate the other way around to other styles, in other words they stretch, they don't squash, so their internal construction will be different to conventional shocks. Hopefully the Softail chaps will have a good handle on your queries.
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Early Evo shock info please
