Clueless

Running 6 volt coils. Think/hope they are in series but am not sure to be honest. It ran decently before the carb mishap.

As mentioned the carbs have been rebuilt (again) and the plugs replaced. It runs decently and starts on the first kick but the metal on metal ticking in the jug is very pronounced.

Is it possible that I could have bent a valve or tappet and the bike would still maintain compression and run ok?

I pulled the exhaust rocker covers off with the bike running and the noise doesn't seem to be coming form the exhaust valves so will recheck the intake gap but it sure sounds like the ticking is coming from the front of the jug(s).

Thanks for the info and suggestions...I am slowly figuring this bike out!

Make sure your tapping noise is not something simple, like something vibrating and making metal to metal contact. Years ago I helped a guy with a Triumph Cub who had been told by a Triumph shop that the clunking noise he was hearing was rod knock. It was clearly audible and sounded like that. But after listening and looking closely we found the problem. The carburetor was so close to the frame tube that when the engine was running it was clearly tapping the frame making the "rod knock". Saved an engine tear down.

On a friends bike I found a 3/8 drive socket down in one of the front recessed holes for the 5/16" head bolts! That made a high-pitched ringing-tapping noise!

Russ