Help! Major Breakage ...

This afternoon I went out to wash my bike. It's been raining for 3 days straight so I hadn't driven it since Thursday. Anyways, I found this:







I wiped off what I believe to be hydraulic fluid and it took paint off with it. What am I looking at here... what could have caused this cover to crack like that? Aside from noticing it was shifting a little stiff that last few days (the shift mechanism is rubbing on the pushed out cover) it still works fine. Am I looking at a major, high dollar repair here?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

EDIT: Bike is 1984 VF1000F Interceptor - sorry I just realized I should have put this in the Mechanics Garage area of the forum.

 

I'd say that looks like you'll just need a "new" front sprocket cover and you should be in business. Hard to say, though, as I'm not familiar with this particular bike, and the pictures are both too close up to tell if that's what the fix would be.

However, the leaking hydraulic fluid (which is brake fluid) has me somewhat concerned - I'd rebuild the slave cylinder when you get the replacement cover.

 

I added another shot that should help. Thanks Viffer.

 

I took the sprocket cover off yesterday. Apparently the last person to install the front sprocket didn't tighten the bolt to spec because it was backed right off and up against the sprocket cover. The end of the bolt is damaged so I will have to get a new one. A buddy of mine is going to weld the cover for me so I think I'm out of this one without too much expense.

 

cases like this, where the drive sprocket "could" wobble or move during operation...

double check your chain, and both sprockets.

 

Thanks again everyone. The cover has been welded and re-installed. Seems to be no other damage. Chain and sprocket in good shape. Back riding again!!

 

If you do need another one in the future they're usually really cheap on eBay.

Nice bike btw!