UPDATE: i got the special tools in and removed and reinstalled the nut. the noise is 100% gone. Big thanks to John for offering to lend me the tools needed to complete the job and for his advice.
cruising the net i found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CacfmuSVk2s
it sounds similar to my noise and the owner says his nut was loose on the pulley. that might be what it is on my bike since the engine was changed. i did get the old engine from the PO and the pulley is not on it so he may have swapped it without the proper tools and didn't get the TQ right.
UPDATE: i got the special tools in and removed and reinstalled the nut. the noise is 100% gone. Big thanks to John for offering to lend me the tools needed to complete the job and for his advice.
The Embedded Bearing Removal Tool is fantastic, https://a.co/d/awDeDU6Screenshot_20230121-074103_Amazon Shopping.jpg
Last edited by t9r; 01-21-2023 at 02:45 PM.