[Solved] ctrl+l changes length of the clip

When I went to make this post, the subject popped in to the browser because I've made the same post before.
 
I'm frustrated. I feel like I just can't learn this!
 
I open a project and set a tempo and record 12 bars. I slip edit using snap around the 12 bars I want to loop and the length of the clip changes arbitrarily.
 
So this morning, I double click the clip to open it in Loop Construction view and it has Beats in clip at 64 and Original temp of 130. The project tempo is 98. That's what I recorded the clip at. The values in Loop Properties in Loop Construction view are disabled and can't be changed. 12 bars at 4 beats a bar is 48 beats. When I go to clip properties and check the length it says 47:957. This should be close enough.
 
Idk. I don't use the feature b/c I'm too dumb to get it. I'm frustrated with myself. I've read the Sonar Help File on Loops. I have my Sonar Power book out. I'm ashamed to keep asking for the same help just to avoid a repetitive copy+paste.
 
Edit: 
In the loop properties box, I click Enable Looping and type 48 into the beats in clip box and it seems to have worked. I guess I was close. Why is this required? I guess I don't understand why Loop construction view doesn't have an easy option to follow project tempo when creating the new loop. It guesses at the number of beats in the audio based on the audio played.
 

Thanks Craig . I do slip edit the clip to be the correct number of measures before looping it. That is a good tip.

Once I realized I had to turn it into a loop then set the beats in the loop I was ok.
 
For a while I was trying to set the beats in the loop before I created the loop.
 
In other words, I got the clip ready, selected it and hit ctrl+L.
 
Result: The loop got almost twice as long.
 
I hit ctrl+z and went looking for the place where I should set the beat count (like in the clip properties). This was the wrong place to set the beat count. I had to enable the loop, let the clip get too long, then set the property in the loop construction view.