I'm looking at getting into my 1st surface drive. Can't afford new, so I'm looking at used. At what hour mark do the engines become worn? Maybe en equivalent to odometer readings on a car??? Like 50k miles = # hrs, 100k = #hrs, etc. appreciate your help

It's a Briggs.
Some motors last 10 hours.
Some last 1000 hours. I wouldn't be scared of a 200 hour motor though.

if it's a good price, I wouldn't be afraid of a mudmotor with 500 or more hours on it. kinda depends on who had it and how bad they treated it.
one thing to think about is that a motor with a lot of hours on it will most likely not have the original lower unit or clutch or various other components. so it could be in better shape mechanically than a newer one that been sunk and dogged out.
stay away from a modded motor. stock is where longevity happens.

there are a lot of motors out there with 300ish hours that can be bought at a good price.

good luck.

Stock engine and used as it should be, I'd say 2000 hours is about the same as 100K on a truck.

^ are you serious at 2k hours? Or did you mean 200hrs?

He meant 2k, 200 isn't shit.

for reference, I have almost 3800 hours on my current 36 briggs. engine is usually not the first thing to go out on a mudmotor. it is usually the clutch or lower unit or trim or tower-housing.

I have gotten 1500hrs+ on 2 different kholers, and they ran as good as new when I sold them. matter of fact the briggs is on the same pd frame now. tower housings been rebuilt a few times and welded up a few times, and lower unit been swapped out a few times, but I still go bang up cypress knees and dig ditches with it almost daily.

Yes, I meant 2000. It's like a truck, if you take care of it and dont beat on it every time you use it, it will last. Go buy a new truck and take it bogging off road everyday, hammering on the throttle, jumping hills, crossing logs, never change the oil or any other maintenance and see how long it lasts. Go to a lawnmower shop and ask about the hours on a maintained commercial mower. Same engine and many see 4000 hours of service just like our service fleet trucks that get used every day but maintained and have 200K miles. Engine is fine, it's the drive train, steering and suspension that starts to need more attention.

Right, If I remember correctly because its been a while, the kawi isn't serviced until 2000 hours. That's what led us to try the block out being there on just about every major commercial mower.