The smaller gears in pic are roughly 6" and 12" and are babies next to the bull gear in the 3rd picture. Sorry that there is no scale but the output or "bull" gear is taller than I am and is near to 2 foot wide....
Tony, does that mean u r two feet tall?
;-)
Most automotive seals have a metal case that is bonded to the seal material so it doesn't deform when installed, they also have a tiny spring to hold the sealing surface to the shaft. Most of the time they don't cause problems BUT as T-cro has experienced, if they get where it matters, it matters.
I rebuilt a 911 engine last winter, you'd be surprised how much damage can be done by a little bit of steel, Cost him $25,000.
My advice, try as hard as you can to fish it out, if you can't get it, You can try dropping the oil pan, it you still can't get it...Get on it and ride it and forget about it! Unless that is, you are prepared to spend 10 or 15 hours taking the motor out and apart.