speedo gear, fallen in gearbox!

i think im going to cry!
 i was changing my speedo cable on my 83 mk1 gti and i think i have dropped the speedo gear into the gear box.
 
 i reatached the new cable and the speedo doesnt register at all.
 so i detached the cable from the dash and the inner cable spins freely, which say to me that its not attached to the gear. Plus when i put my finger in the box :roll: there is nothing there! the gear didnt jump out when i took the cable out either.
 all i can think is that the gear is now sitting at the base of the gearbox?
 shall i drain the oil and see if its nestleing at the base?
 the thing is ive taken it for a drive, and you would have thought that it would have been upset if the gear was free in the box?
 
 i really really need some advice here lads before i have to take the box off!
 
 cheers

put the cable in place and hope it catches on and works?

ive done this b4 as i dropped it in because i never had the circlip to hold the sproket thingy in place and it worked fine! (total bodge i know)

not reccommended but wot else can u do?

Hi,i did exactly the same with my citi when i put a clutch in,i ended up taking the box back out (2 bolts) and shaking it upside down till it fell out,it will not move to the oil drain plug,p….. me right off but s… happens
 :doh:
Lee