ok so i recently had a gasket problem in my rocker box.
changed the gasket, had oil pissing out my air filter. eventually ripped it all apart again, put it back together and the oil leak stopped.
however!.... there is now a tapping noise coming from the front of my engine.
i thought it might be down to low oil, i was due an oil change anyway, so i changed the oil.
but the tapping is still there.
i can hear it over the sound of my bike (v&h short shot) so it aint exactly a quiet noise. seems louder at higher revs and when the engine is warmer.

oh also when i was putting my rocker box back on, the pushrods(? not sure if thats the right word, im no mechanic) where coming out more than before.
so when i tried to put the rocker box back on it wouldnt sit right, i read on here that they biuld up with oil underneath and that it safe to just slowly tighten the rocker box and it will push the rods back down into place.
this seemed to do the job. not sure if it could be that but thought it might be worth a mention. information is power right lol

 

me thinks you've discovered your problembut you get an E for effort.

 

Exhaust leak, tighten the nuts. May also need a new exhaust gasket.

 

Is it possible you got the push rods in the wrong locations (the exhaust and intake are different lengths)...also you are correct about tightening the rockers slowly pushing the lifters down....I say, if its not the exhaust ( you had no need to mess with it did you?) I would pull the cover off the front cyclinder head and turn the motor over and listen for noise, no need to start it, just turn it over (pull the plugs first)..you might have left a loose bolt or something in there...