Rear shock pump number

[huggiebear]

Hi! Hope someone can shine some light on on the code of the rear shock pump.
In 2014 I bought a 2010 air bad model with a broken frame along with other broken things including the rear shock pump, so I looked on eBay to find a used rear shock,
Found one from a 2005 and the number on the back of the pump reads xx xx 05.
After the bike it was restored I found out the rear shock were soft so started to look for
One of the latest model 2012 or newer. Found one in Alabama from a trike conversation
Of a 2015. I read on the forum that the 2012 and later model the spring is more stronger than the 2010 model.
That was last year 2017 when I bought this shock the number on the pump was xx xx 14
Here is the question: the number on the pump represents a lot number or the manufacture date?
I'll say it's manufacture date but according to the garage who was supposed to replace my xx xx 05 shock with the xx xx 14 never happened I found out Friday 3 days ago that the newer shock was never installed I still have the one I've bought in 2014 with the number xx xx 05.
I've called the shop in Sarasota Florida and the owner of the shop told me after a year and half I found out that job wasn't done, also asked me after he spoke with the mechanic who supposed to do the swap of the shocks, how I can tell that the shock still the same as it was before I took the bike to his shop.
I told him by looking at the number I've told him the last 2 digit represent the year it was manufactured but he told me otherwise it's just a number.
Maybe I'm wrong but despite that the shock I've bought in Alabama with number xx xx 14 it's not on my bike the one on my bike is xx xx 05 the one I purchased in 2014 .
When I took the bike to his shop I told the mechanic who was going to do the job,
To give me back the one he was going to replace.
So guess what
The one on the bike is a xx xx 05 but the one he gave me back has a number xx xx 10.
Now this raised a red flag but because I thought that the last 2 digit was the year and
My bike is a 2010 I gave them the benefit of the doubt, maybe the onda mechanic in Canada swapped the tag the make it same as the year of the bike. Now I'm thinking that doesn't make sense because it should read 09 because no Goldwing were manufactured in 2010.
See picture below this is what I received from the shop I paid to replace the shock which never happened but I was charged 190$ for 2 hour labour.
Once again what's these numbers means?
XX XX 05
XX XX 14
14 12 10 the number you see in the picture below.















Sent from my iPad

[huggiebear]

forgot to ask anyone know if these shock were used by Honda for a 2005 Goldwing? or this is an aftermarket part?
the tag is SHOWA MCA-D31
I'm trying to collect enough evidence to prove the shop never done the job.
there is any office beside lawyers you can help me solving this issue and make sure no one will get ripped off in the future?

[GoldWingrGreg]

"MCA" is Honda's designation that that particular part was originally designed for a GL1800. To me you are showing a Honda OEM part. Showa makes that for Honda.

The color of the tag has meaning, but I cannot recall what years are tagged with a yellow tab. However, if I recall a blue tag is found on rear shocks from 2012-17.

Also, the color of the damper cushion in the collar at the bottom of the spring has meaning too. The one in your picture is reddish/brownish/blackish. I believe that's an older color. See how worn it is in some areas (ruff), that means that shock/spring assy. in your picture has been bottoming.

I believe your picture shows an older, worn shock.

[huggiebear]

goldwingrgreg thanks for the fast reply, you're about the blue colour of the tag. The one I bought it was from 2015 and it was blue.
best thing to do for me is remove the one on the bike and see if it's blue, even though i can see the pump number it's the same as the one bought in 2014 the one bought in 2017 the last 2 digit were 14, the one on the bike last digts it was and still 05.
when I'm in florida i should contac a lawyer to see if I have a case. or contact BBB