I missed some of that Jeff but the top plug is labeled Oil Level not the middle.
racerone, there is a plug higher up closer to the pump for flushing.
History: I changed the oil last year and didn't notice there were three plugs until the recent repair. I don't use the outboard much, I live on the lake and mostly use the boat for fishing so when I go out early I'm on the trolling motor. I don't remember exactly how many hours were on the motor after changing the oil but it wasn't much. When I could hear something was wrong I stopped using the outboard completely. During disassembly I found the top drive shaft seal, this unit doubles on both the drive and prop shaft, was completely distorted and thought at the time it was heat damaged. The top drive shaft roller bearing was the noise maker. Both top and bottom drive shaft bearings were replaced. When I found the top drive shaft roller bearing race mfg's part number did not match the roller assembly number I blamed the failure on that mismatch. There were some obvious signs this lower unit has been apart in the past. Researching the bearing part number mismatch I had learned that the bearing mfg suggests that bearing be used as a pair, (no clue why) same bearing assembly on each end of the shaft. Yamaha didn't engineer it that way instead it has this two different style bearings the top is the tapered roller and the bottom pin style roller. ANYWAY possibly when I replace the oil previously I may not have seen the top plug and removed the middle one to vent as I filled from the bottom. Gear box then may have only been half filled and that top bearing was damaged due to lack of oil. (??)
With all that said I'm inclined to refill as racerone suggest. Waiting for ordered oil now.
Many thx for your time guys, be safe.
