u/Resident-Mastodon840

Circumstances mandated this thing be made in order to get a little drone down from high up a tree. The power is stored in a gym band, making it logically a slingshot. It yeets a M24 nut with a string attached over a tree branch, which then can be shaken.
The trigger mechanism is a spinning wheel lock with a release lever like I saw used in medieval crossbows, and actually works brilliantly. The part that doesn't, is the projectile holder. I used a loop of rope to hook the band onto the wheel notch, but that doesn't leave a good spot for the projectile. It often "misfires" when the projectile rolls off the band, with a loss in range and accuracy. Any ideas on how to make some sort of projectile pouch that still has a way of being hooked onto the wheel? I'm a bit antsy about cutting and gluing the band since it is under so much tension, but that would make things easier..

I'm using a cheerful Honda GX25 clone as a generator/range extender, recently it developed this consistent ticking sound, audible at idle or at speed. So far I've checked for any debris around moving parts and corrected the valve lash, but neither was the culprit. I can't see or feel anything snagging when turning it manually, the oil was pretty clean, the engine starts very easily and makes the expected power. Any ideas what could cause such a sound?