Plastic cover on the mowing deck

Hi everyone from sunny France.
I`ve just had the deck off my MTD 36inch cut rideon to prepare it for the cutting season.
Its a pain to remove with the plastic cover in place,also grass collects under the cover.Can I leave the cover off because it certainly does not stop grass clogging round the belt pulleys.I cannot think of anything detrimental to doing this,anyone any ideas as to leaving the cover off.


Cheers Van