The bicycle patch quickly failed, oil dripped out, and random clacking resumed.

Looked @ several U Tube videos on repairing small holes in CV boots , & borrowing from some of them did the following:

First i forced the end of a grease gun into the hole, and pumped in as much grease as it would hold, @ least 40 pumps. Then i manipulated the boot to force as much as possible of the grease into the joint.

Cleaned the whole boot again with paint thinner followed by denatured alcohol.

Applied new bicycle patch.

Wrapped the whole mess with multiple layers of H.F's finest 39 cent electric tape.

Secured the edges of the taped area with H.F.'s finest (free with coupon) cable ties. These i pulled as snugly as possible without visibly deforming the boot.

I'm thinking since it was intermittently clacking, the joint may already be fatally damaged, but if the clacking goes away, this repair will hold at least until i have the time to do the job properly.