Ok guys, just wanted to let you know that you can use your spur gear cover and it's not that hard. Just takes a little time and I've got the hard part figured out for you. The main reason I wanted to use mine , like most of you, was to keep the wiring from getting into it and to keep the mud and rocks out!
Step 1. Before removing the rear spur cover and after removing the front you need to mark the rear part where it is closest to the front trans OUTPUT (the part where the front driveshaft goes on). You are doing this to help line it up on the new trans. Then Remove the rear cover saving those screws (you will need two of them on the new trans.Take the back part and dremel the three ears that the bolts go through off till its flat on the center part of the back like this
Step 2. Take the part you just worked on and place it on your trans. Lining the top screw closest to the motor and the mark at the front output that you made. You can go ahead and swap your old trans screw into that top left hole to help you make your other marks. On this pic you can see the mark I made 3/4 inch or so below the input shaft. This is where you will have to drill with a 3/16 bit in a few.
3) You need to do a little more dremeling to the front side of the cover so you can put a thin nut on where your upper right screw will come through. Also this needs a new hole up above and slightly right so it will line up with the other top screw just like this. The lower arrow is where the output should be.
4. Now the hard part is over. You can put your top two screws all the way through (from your old trans) and some thin nuts on with a drop of loctite . I drilled my lower hole out with a 3/16 bit and wallered it out a bit. Then I took an extra screw and forced it in while turning it. It will cut its own threads in the aluminum or you can tap it if you wish.
This is all you have to do. Just put your new spur gear on and make sure it doesn't hit any bolts. If so just dremel them off a bit.
Sorry I didn't take a pic of my cover on but it works great, no rubbing!