NH269 baler Plunger bearing shield scrunched

I had the plunger out  of the 'ol girl last year and replaced the knifes, the bearings and the tin shield that covers the bearing on the feed finger/chamber side. Adjusted the plunger up to specs and baled hay last year. Well preping to sell the baler,  I had the hay chamber clear and was inspecting thing this year and my new special ordered piece of tin look like a scrumpeled up beer can loosely flopping around on the plunger. It had sheared the two rear 5/16" bolts and was only held on by the longer thru bolt on forward brace. I was able to get the tin out by using a torch to nip off the nut on the thru bolt and the tin came clear out then.  Any one out there has this happened to them? Can the baler be run without that bearing shield or is this a stop immeadiately and replace deal?  I really don't need the ordeal of removing the plunger again to attach something that may or maynot stay put. I'll have drill out the 2 broken off 5/16" bolts on the plunger Seems like a time bomb waiting to go off putting tin in that portion of the plunger.   bjr

NH269 baler Plunger bearing shield scrunched