Know any Yamaha Virago gurus?

I bought a nonrunning 1985 Yamaha Virago vx700 for pretty cheap the other week. I think they can be made into good looking bikes, and have some great ideas for it. Turns out these particular bikes, this year and model, have some starter issues due to terrible, awful design.

Anyone here know these bikes? I replaced the clips and apparently the PO replaced a couple of the gears in the starter geartrain but I am still getting a box of rocks sound. One solution is to replace the other gear that gets worn and beaten, the flywheel gear.

I have read that the other option is to use parts from a different model. You can use the starter clutch and solenoid from a different model if you also use the crankcase cover from that same model. Anyone here know what model I need to snag the parts from and more importantly does anyone have those parts stored somewhere in a shed or know anyone who does? Thanks

Program called Café Racer built one up, looked good.

http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2012/01/cafe-racer-tv-virago-cafe-racer.html

All I know, is I've drooled over this for a few years.

Some of the very few cases where café job improves the bike in every possible way, including ergonomics.

I don't know what's so special about the 85 model, but the starter was crappy on all first gen Viragos. For my 83 750, I did what everyone did and shimmed the starter. They used to sell kits for that. They make great Cafe Racers or Bobbers. I build mine as a bobber. The dual carbs are also gonna give you a lot of pleasure if they need to be tuned.

Know of no one fix for the starter problems. I've seen various ones with various reports of success. From welding to hoseclamps, and probably half a dozen other things in between. Problems vary from simply the box of rocks noise to intermittent bind or failure to engage.

I suspect the box of rocks noise is indeed rattling parts. Which the shims and hose clamps and such can band-aid fix. The problems with bind and failure to engage are more wear/breakage problems, imo.

Were it my bike, I'd be inclined to open it up again and re-examine things. I'd also be inclined to let it make noise as long as it's working.

From my understanding the shim is for a spinning ring gear in the starter, which I have taken care of. Another problem is that you have a spinning gear smashing into a nonmoving flywheel gear and that just doesnt work, especially after 15000 miles of starts.

I cant get it started currently due to this issue. Well I havent tried in a few weeks but last time I had no luck.