Damage from tangled prop?

[whitesfam]

9.9 will fire briefly but not start. Have rebuilt and cleaned carb, and checked gas, tank, fuel line, filter. Problem started shortly after prop was tangled with loose rope, and engine stalled. Ran motor once after that with no problem. How can I tell if there is damage in lower unit, short of opening it up? Other possible cause?

[Sporty1]

Before I purchased my 89 ELF 30 the previous owner got some fishing line tangled in the lower unit and it wrecked the seals because it wasn't removed. I had the repair done by an authorized Yamaha Outboard mechanic who said you can always tell if your lower unit seals have been damage because when you inspect your lower unit oil it will be a milky color instead of correct oil color. How this helps some.