VTX 1800 questions

Howdy,
new to the site and I have done some digging around looking for some answers.
If these answers are already on here please forgive me, I couldn't find them.
I just got an 02 1800r with 7400 miles on it. It has a couple of quirks that i think are just it's character but want to to get some feedback from fellow 1800 owners.

1: The motor sounds typical when cold but one it warms up it gets some valve noise that sounds like loose lifters on an old small block v8, is this normal for the big twin? I saw one guy posted it sounds like "a pissed off sewing machine doing steroids" and that sounds about right but it looked like he was the only one.

2: Every now and again when downshifting in town the shifter wont allow me to down into 1'st and this seemed to happen when hot as well.

3: last but not least I see several 1300 owners have done the Clayton mod but the 1800's don't really have any posts about this mod,unless I'm searching wrong which is probably the case

Love the bike been riding Honda's my whole life and have had several, cb's,cmx,76 GL, cb1100 f drag bike,shadow, 3 Elsinore 250's, 2 XRs. Love Honda's they are awesome bikes. This is my first vtwin and thats why I have questions on typical grunts and groans.

Thank you much in advance.