Here is the story, I went to pull a lower unit with a stuck driveshaft and got it off sans driveshaft (still in the powethead). When I opened the water pump case the key was nowhere to be found. The unit was pulled a couple weeks ago, so it may have dropped on the floor, or ..... Fell in the gearcase. The motor is a 97 so it has a plastic (vinyl) half moon key. If it is in the gearcase would it do no harm as it is plastic, or do I need to tear apart to see if it's there? Thanks.