Replacement engine installation issue

[chidarste]

Hey all -

I've been short a working engine for over a year now as my piston seized up to the crankshaft (don't ask).  I decided to get a used engine shipped and it arrived seemingly intact until I started putting it in.  Seems there were some shipping problems as I found a fin in the package but as it was only one fin and prolly an inch in length I wrote it off.  Well, turns out there are two other issues.  One is the cylinder head cover nearby the cracked fin seems to have a crack in it.  That's not that big of a problem since I have the old engine with which to swap it out.  There is also a severe setback as the gear shifter shaft (the thing the gear shifter your foot manipulates engages) was bent as well.

The bent gear shifter is causing an issue when trying to place the old bike's engine sprocket cover over the new engine's gear shifter... I can force it on and get the screws in but there's still a small overlap by the gear shifter and the cover doesn't fit flush.  I have a few questions:
1) Could this be attributed to different engine versions?  Honestly I'd doubt it but the fact the screws are in and there's still overlap concerned me a little bit.
2) Can the gear shifter simply be bent back?  I don't want to jerk around with anything nearby the shift fork so I am hesitant to apply this method, but it would seem the most "correct" -- replacing it outright with a working one isn't feasible, I don't have a garage and can't work on an engine in a day's time.
3) Would it be ok to simply bore out where the gear shifter shaft is pressing up against the engine sprocket cover?  Is there any reason to worry about extra dirt getting kicked in there above and beyond what the chain would do already?

I can add pictures if need be, I just wanted to see if there was an obvious solution here.  Thanks in advance!
-dan

[JAY W]

Have you made a complaint to the company that shiped your motor? I suspect if you try to bodge the sprocket cover you will take some support away from the gear shaft...leading to seal wearing rappidly,poss` selecter forks,the risk of your jeans getting chewed in the sprocket.If you have to repair swap gear shaft,rocker cover.Not ideal when you think your buying something decent.