do these symptoms suggest I need a valve adjustment? Edit: or bent valve?

[ducpainter]

A bike with 4 'bent' valves would most likely have far more than 10% leak down.

I still say to put it behind you and move forward...it's a no win situation IMO.

[Rudemouthsky]

Meh, I'm starting to agree with DP and Memper. Those crooks didn't get a penny from me, and all the $$ I'm spending is making my bike way better than it was before. Plus I'll be exposing those scumbags soon enough and they'll feel the blowback. I'll still be the winner in the end.

[Howie]

OK, no expert witnesses, shoulda known that even though I'm not a lawyer. 

Some other ideas:

Find out small claims court fees, rules and procedure in your location.  Spend some time in the "peanut Gallery" observing what goes on.

Keep the email war going and try to put words into their mouths.  What did you actually authorize?   Beyond  basic diagnosis mechanically they should not have gone beyond leak down and valve clearance check.

Now you should be able to choose whether or not to proceed with a claim.  Keep in mind they may prefer to settle out of court.

If you choose not to proceed you can take the high road and follow Nate's advice or the more fun road and follow Memper's advice.

[ducatiz]

OK, no expert witnesses, shoulda known that even though I'm not a lawyer. 

Some other ideas:

Find out small claims court fees, rules and procedure in your location.  Spend some time in the "peanut Gallery" observing what goes on.

Keep the email war going and try to put words into their mouths.  What did you actually authorize?   Beyond  basic diagnosis mechanically they should not have gone beyond leak down and valve clearance check.

Many states require work authorization to be in writing, FYI.

If ther was no work auth in writing, then no auth.

But if you never paid..... then they know they make the beast with two backsed up hard.

I mean...

If you brought it in with bent valves and they had to tear it down to figure it out...

Then..

They did work and aren't at fault...  Why wouldn't they demand payment?

Sounds to me like they are praying you accept the no-charge grenade of your engine and go away.

[Rudemouthsky]

A small claims filing isn't terribly complicated in OH. I still may go that route, good chance they would settle. More important to me than anything is that they end up with egg on their faces for future potential customers to see.

I almost feel bad for the dumbass tech. It's the lying little turd "service manager" I'd like to bring down a few pegs.

[memper]

If you go the legal route, consider the worst possible outcome (for you). Then decide if its worth it with the potential of that happening.