What to check?

Taking a look at a used, but supposed to be rebuild, motor and I am just wondering what, if anything, to look at to make sure I'm not gonna be ripped off.

Thanks

I don't know how to look at a motor and know if it was properly rebuilt. If you can't be 100% certain of the quality of the seller, you are taking a huge risk in buying it.

look at outside of motor,is it all nasty looking?look like its been dropped from a plane?:laugh: look in the exhuast and intake ports are they dry looking,signs of oil leaking?if possible hook a battery up to starter and check compressionon all cylinders,pull the valve cover off and have a look.if he has problems withyo checking it out walk away

my personal thought,,, unless you know the person REAL well, I would consider it needing to be rebuilt, no matter what he says.
what you and I consider rebuilt may very well not be what he thinks a rebuild is.
Rebuild: new over size pistons and rings
bored cyls and honed correctly
valve job to include new guides, seals, valves
bottom end and oil pump rebuilt
new cam chain and guides
all new gaskets
everything cleaned and new bolts and studs

just my 1.50 worth, up from 2 cents, fuel surcharge

Remove the oil pan, and look there. You gotta know if the builder dropped anything in there, or if it's clean inside the engine showing it's been rebuilt. At the price of a gasket, it's worth knowing. Ask for reciepts for proof of rebuilding.

When you take that pan off if it takes a stick of dynamite to get it off, you will know it hasnt been rebuilt. I would check it out as best I could and price as if it needed a total rebuild. A stock 900/1000 in good shape less carbs out here is worth about $150. I have one of each with 25,000 miles on them Id sell and thats about thier value to give you some idea. Thats probably not what the guy wants but the rest is up to you

I like to put the look of fear(maybe chagrin) on the sellers face. Gris taught me this. I bring a cane to look at running bikes. I put the hard handle of the cane on the running engine and the other against my jawbone. It amplifies the engine noise. Almost every engine has anomalous noises. Pick one out and have the seller do the same tell him to listen to the valve lash or blowby.:ohmy: Most times they can hear it (sure they can) and I'll reduce my offering price accordingly. It has worked and it has not worked. Gris used to say he really could hear problems.:huh: He'd also ask them when the last changed the blinker fluid.:silly: I am not that good and while I have heard some strange noises I have no idea what they are unless they are no brainers. they are my bread and butter. But the cane trick is fun to do.:woohoo:
Gris may get me for giving out that secret. Sssssshhhh!

Look at all the side covers and the cylinder base for new gaskets. Take a strong flashlight and look down the spark plug holes at the valves and piston as you rotate the crank. That will tell you if they have been serviced. Has this engine been run since overhaul? If not, everything in the cylinders should be squeaky clean or new....chris3