Motorcycle Repair: reviving the dead, virago 1100, delivery tubes

Question
Hi Chris,

My local Yamaha dealership refuses to work on my '87  Virago 1100 (or any over-10-yo bikes). I went to a local shop chain. I am no wrench, but I pulled the carbs  (after riding home on one cylinder one night) and have done all tuneups (bought at 8k, now have 30k mi) with no problems.

I didn't want mess with the infamous Virago 'starter problem' when my starter went out (strip sound with no turn of the flywheel) so when the shop replaced a worn idler gear for 300$ I was poorer but very happy it started right up.  

Riding to work the next day, I thought the engine sounded 'louder', but attributed that to not wearing my earplugs. About halfway home on my 20mi commute, my bike let out a SCREECH the like of which I'd never hear on any bike. I pulled over at the next exit and called for them to come and pick up the bike.

Their post mortem concluded that no oil was reaching the top end, despite clean oil and clean filter screens? The screech may have been the dry cam lobe against the rocker thingy? They replaced the oil pump and blew air in the oil delivery tubes but no luck.

They aren't charging me for the labor so far cuz they've had my bike over 4 months (trying to find and wait for discontinued parts) and he says he's just curious to find out what went wrong.

They've concluded now, however, she'll have to be opened up (8hr min labor) for diagnosis and need some $$$.

Any opinions on what might have happened? Based on that, how do you think costs should be handled?

Thanks,

G.D.

Answer
Hi G.D.
 It sounds as if the ports and lines may have congestion of some kind in them.  Any of those would prevent oil from getting into the heads.

As far as how the costs should be handled, that is something that is between you and the shop and depends on what the actual problem is as well as how the shop handles the diagnosis and repair.

Sorry I can't help you further.
Good luck.
FALCON