Put it back on.
Last trip to Moab i was just driving the trail, kinda 1/2 asleep and hit an unexpected bump and killed the motor. the Jeep rolled back 2 feet and stopped. No big deal.... right...
I tried to start it and the starter went clunk and no engine cranking. Now it had my attention...
I tried again with the same result, so I opened the hood and tried to crank it. The battery cable was moving on its own from the amount of current going through it. Not a big deal, I will have Mark pull start me and go on...
When he tried to pull me and I let the clutch out, Mark promptly stood his Jeep up on the two rear wheels. That got HIS attention!
I tried to turn the motor by hand and it would not budge. Great, I am thinking, the motor is frozen...
I tried to turn it backwards and a little rock fell out and the motor turned ok. Come to find out, a little rock had hit the ring gear when the Jeep was rolling backwards and jammed itself between the flywheel and bellhousing.
Lesson learned. Put the cover back on.