Only the tins were off the bike. Motor and trans were not touched.
Not trying to bust your chops, but now, I'm going to assume tins means fenders. I'm going to also assume you had something painted but the engine and trans were never removed out of the frame. Correct?
So we are back to, 'when I parked it, she was fine.' Now, all of a sudden I had to adjust my clutch and I hear this noise. Are we on the same page for this? See where I'm looking at that clutch nut as one mentioned as a ratchet kind of noise on the left side? You hear it no matter clutch in or clutch out, which makes sense the clutch outer is walking with even more tolerance...
I adjusted the clutch cable to pull a little more to stop it and it did. I noticed the notice the next day. I can't see a clutch adjustment dosing it but I will Olsen it and see if it stops.
Now, I'm going to assume you were following the whole basket as it becomes a complete unit unto itself. Think of it as if there was no nut at all, I could pull that whole inner/outer clutch assembly off its shaft> as one unit.
So as the nut backs out, you are following the pushing out [or backing away] of the pressure plate. The basket now walks with the pressure plate. See, if I shimmed the whole clutch outer away from the trans output shaft, I'd have to extend the push rod too. Same as if I had to shim out the front sprocket so both belt/chain sprockets would line up again... We see this example of 'walk out?'
Back to Jeff's post.
If I am belt drive, I can bungee the clutch lever to the grip, then pull the clutch outer in and out. It should have some movement, but nothing like an 1/8" or more. See that many turns at the push rod adjust screw? An 8th is a lot of push rod extension.
If I am chain drive with oil, I have a sub-cover [on the primary cover] to adjust the clutch, right? I'd lean that bike over so no oil comes out. Same deal but without the bungee at the lever. This time, take a pair of pliers and grab the clutch assembly or pressure plate and move it in and out. We have the same float? > Then, it sounds like a Nut going loose... You'd think.
But you are saying right side noise and we are not standing next to you listening to the noise you hear. So, that's where I'd start is the easy shit first and that's on the left side we go chasing nut walk on the left side.