Fixed!! I was getting ready to remove the stock tail motor, but then I saw those two little screws were not in there correct positions, and were probably loose!!

Duh I never got in close enough to see until now. Clearly the only real problem was initially the tail took a bang and when out of position, deteriorated the gears.

A close look at the brass pinion gear shows its still OK. It has a fresh tail rotor gear on it and now sounds fine at all speeds!! Whew@!@! I can get credit at the LHS now - no problem the guy is cool.

And its not chittering!! Ok, much closer to making progress again. A good going over as a pre-flight check and I am ready to begin re-learning the hopping and sliding again... takin it slowwwwww...