[Fred's 123]

So, I pulled the engine on my Cub a few weeks ago to repair the broken grass screen on the flywheel / output shaft. This screen had broken at the four screw holes which attach it to the flywheel, but I was able to simply turn it 45 degrees rotation and bolt it back on. All looked good.

Ever since getting everything back together, I've been hearing a "ticking" from the engine area. I thought it might be the grass screen wobbling and bumping against the shround, but that does not appear to be the case. Then I decided it sounded like it was coming from the front of the motor, and thought it might be the belt PTO clutch assembly. However, the ticking is the same whether the PTO is engaged or off. It does not sound like valves tapping, but something external. Weeks of poking around and looking at things have turned up nothing. Any ideas?