My friend sunk his bayou 300. I know it needs a set of rings. It was making a ticking noise. I checked the vavles and there ok so i pulled the motor apart. The piston didn't look bad and the end gap on the rings where .023. the rod felt ok side to side and up and down. I can't find where the ticking is coming from. Do you think it could be the cam chain. Someone who does this more often would see this more and know it right off the bat. I not that lucky but i did look at it real hard, then pulled a few hairs out. So please help.

 

a bad sparkplug connection can make a tapping sound

 

would it be worse when it cold. It had sit up for about 3 mths before i started it and it was pretty load at frist thenit got a little quiter.