<snip> whether to remove the cylinder barrels and replace the lower o
rings <snip>

Of course the final decision ... and the risk is yours .... no matter
what the experience of others has been.  That being said ....

When I replaced one head and resealed the other, one of the jugs had to
be removed from the head "away" from the vehicle.  Naturally, I replaced
that one's lower O ring.  The other jugs were disturbed slightly but I
didn't replace the lower rings on them.

I have since made several round trips from northern Maine to southern
Virginia which included summer and winter driving and no apparent
problems or leaks from leaving the old O rings in place.

Mike
'84 GL "Mongo"
'85 Westy (Paid for but not yet picked up)