1992 OMC Cobra engine water plug screw removed and plate/backing fell in the cavity.

[justadoode]

Hello-
I have a 1992 OMC Cobra engine and made the mistake of removing the notorious water plug screw on the left side of the upper housing (if you're behind the boat). My understanding is that USUALLY there is a cobra sticker there which keeps numbskulls like me from unscrewing this screw and having the stainless steel backing/plate fall into the cavity... Well I did it. I unscrewed it and the stainless steel backing/plate fell into the cavity. I tried fishing it out with a wire hanger and a magnet; no luck. My question is: If I seal the hole and leave the stainless steel, threaded backing/plate in the cavity, will I ruin anything? Is this just an empty cavity or is there any gear stuff in there or anything that I can run the risk of damaging? I've been trying for hours but can't feel anything in there, I don't even know where it landed to fish it out, so out of exhaustion I'm playing with the idea of sealing it so no water gets in/out and just accepting that the little stainless steel plate/backing will just exist in there some where. Is this stupid? I'm a newbie to boating so sorry if this is a dumb question. I shudder at the thought of trying to remove the lower unit from the upper unit. Thanks!!

Charles

[superbenk]

Pretty sure it needs to come out, but not certain. Someone more knowledgeable will chime in.