If buying a motor off of craigslist is there the potential for someone to put a new tach on the motor to restart the hours? Is there anyway to find out if someone is trying to pull a fast one???

Nope. The tach. can be changed in about 2 mins.

Well that's great. Any ideas for getting a general idea about how many ACTUAL hours a used motor would have on it?

What does the hour meter say? Why do you think it would be wrong? If its real low, the engine would more than likely be pretty clean. Muffler wouldn't have too much rust, maybe?
If the motor runs good, I wouldn't sweat it. Take it out on the water though if at all possible and run it with a load. Any problems its having would def happen while on the water, and may not in someones driveway.

Hours show less than 75, but the motor looks fairly rough. The skeg has most of its paints still on it, the very bottom is worn, but the motor as a whole looks a little rough. It is an 06.

Just because it has low hours should not deter your purchase. I know folks that dont put 30-40 hours a season on a motor. Use it duck season only. Not everyone puts 200-300 hours or more on a mm every year. Like stated above, it should lood pretty clean but I would want to run it no matter how many hours it has.

Here is a picture...

I am going to look at it today. I can buy it for 2500...

THAT MOTOR HAS HAD A ROUGH LIFE!!!!!!!

How many hours or on it?

Someone posted a pic of this motor not long ago,I remember a comment about all of the tie wraps on it.

I would do a compression check on it.

Also, as stated hit the water with it if you can.... Problems show up under load that don't show up in the yard....

If a deal is too good to be true, it usually is....

Tach looks to be in a odd place... we have an 06 and an 04-one kohler and one briggs and the tach on both is on the motor. I point out only becuase if it was added later, moved, or changed it might not be accurate

That tiny tach looks newer than the rest of the motor to me. But who cares. Just cause it only has 75 hrs don't mean that you can't or will not have less problems than a motor with 750 hrs. If the money is right and it runs good then go for it.

ucsdryder,
Where are you located.

Located in Northern CA.

Like I said, the Tach is showing ~75 hours.

Welcome to the site. I though you were in California. I also saw this motor for sale, http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1637011962.html in Chico, I think the motor has more than 75hrs. But that does not mean you will have problems. The think I would watch out for is if he is not telling you the truth about the hrs what else is he not telling you. I live in Fresno and might have a couple of options for you PM me.

Saying the motor has had a rough life by the 1 pic may be a stretch. Remember these motors are suppossed to be rated for 1000s of hours. Just sitting in the weather will make a motor LOOK rough. If the seller has Amy credability he will let you take it for a spin.

It more than likely has more than 75 hours, but what do you want for 2500 bucks? If it runs good and sounds solid, I would say definately worth what's being asked for it.

L: 111 R: 60

Oye.

If you get a chance to go and look at it, pay attention to other stuff that he has, ask yourself questions, do his other things look ok, is he organized you know stuff like that. More than likely he doesn't wash it off everytime he gets through with it judging by the pics. Mine gets a bath evrytime out of the water. But hey 2600 bucks is not that bad of a deal.