5155 Front drive shaft cover

[Hendey T&G]

I bought my 5155 used and just changed the oil for the first time. I noticed the plastic front drive shaft cover is damaged.
Do I need to replace it or is it just a safety concern about getting caught in the rotating shaft?
Both ends also has sealant gobbed all over it. What's it sealing other than grease?

 

[RjCorazza]

That looks to me as though something was damaged in the past, and cobbled back together. I would replace the shaft cover to keep it from twisting up brush / grass / or other debris.