Yes, Oil should be up to the level plug. Most drives have 3 plugs. Top is vent. Middle is level and bottom drain.

Thanks again for your help and the heads up about the wrong model. I used my cell phone and it is difficult to hit the right spot to pick a model with big fingers. And then don't get me going about auto-correct. Some of the messages that get sent are crazy and I dont realize it until after i hit send. I do have a 30sctt. I will try following your suggestions about a local independant. Can you advise me on how to tell if there is enough gear lube. When I have the hole open for fluid, is it like a car differential where you should be able to feel it with a finger or see it.

30SC ? Your heading said 30RC... Two completely different trucks. I'm not real familiar with SC's. Either way removing the motor from most drive unit is pretty straight forward. Pulling the drive unit is sometimes a chore if you are not familiar with the "tricks of the trade". If you had little to no gear lube (typically 80/90) chances are it is the drive unit that failed. As far as hydraulic oil Crown normally recommends AW/ISO 32 or equivalent. Thinner oil if ran in freezer or cold and you can go heavier if in hot environment.

Also... You typically wont find a lot of manuals on line for most forklifts. You have to obtain them from a dealership or be a "partner" or have a corporate deal with manufacturer to get access to the online resources.

If you are having issue getting your most local Crown dealership service to respond, maybe post on this site under Tech arena with your location that you are looking for an independent in your area. I'm sure there are independents in your area that would respond within a day if not same day. A lot of times the independent guys are top notch techs and will quote/bill out way lower than dealership service departments.

Thanks very much for your response. I did what you suggested and it is the motor or gears (and bearing). I took off the cover behind the wheel and there was very little gear lube in there. there is one gear completely in view but I have never seen the strange nut that holds it on and can't figure out if it comes off so I can seperate the motor and drive gears.
A few questions for you. What gear lube and how much should be in there?
What hydraulic fluid should i use (since it apart and easy to get to)
It appears that I can take off the whole gear drive by removing three large bolts that attach it to the frame and 4 smaller bolt that hold it to the motor? Any thoughts? It seems like I get at it that way without dealing with the mast. Then I can take that piece to a shop to get it worked on if necessary.
I've had no luck getting a service person to come out since i am a little drive from Los Angeles. I've tried for six months. I cant find a service manual or much online info on the 30sctt since it is getting old but it works so well and has been really reliable. Thanks again,

Jack and block the drive off the ground. have someone stand on the brake pedal and do a visual to see if the brake assy is working correctly and releasing brake. If brake is working correctly, with it released see if you can manually turn the drive wheel. These trucks are common for drive unit bearing failure. You can also tell a lot by draining the gear lube into a clean drain pan and inspecting for metal.

If it comes down to pulling and replacing/rebuilding the drive unit... I suggest (if you are unfamiliar with lift trucks) getting help from a trained tech. This is a mast up job and a lot of safety steps come into play to keep you from getting squished/killed.