Then please have a piece of plywood large enough to cover the intake air horn. Also have the air filter off the engine so the wood can be used. Also have some rags to stuff around the wood.
Now reinstalling the cover can be done 2 ways. One is to hot up the top of the cover and just sit it down. I personally have not tried this but Mel has stated its a better way because the lever can't be installed wrong and cause a run away. The other way is no power on the cover and slide it back and then forwards. Its really been a long time since I did this so please watch for others to post. Might find a utube vid showing how also. What ahs why did you remove the cover. Any fuel in the top has already been thru the complete pump and you just can't fill an mt pump thru this process.