Inspecting an engine?

[Brownstoo]

Well I've decided to replace the engine in my bike coz the one I have is going to cost a lot more to fix mine proper.
I found one from a bike wrecker, with 50k on the clock for 600 bucks. It can't run because it's not attached to a bike, and when it was running it didn't run very well because the headers were squished by whatever calamity befell the bike before it got dissected which, from experience, sounds a tad suspicious.

Anyway since I can't do the ol look n listen while it's running is there any point in me having a look and considering this engine?

Oh, anyone got an old 3ln1 or 2kr they don't want anymore?

[CookMySock]

Just make sure you have a good written warranty from them, and go for it. If its junk, take it back.

Buying second-hand motors is always hit and miss, with much much more miss than hit. Roll dice - pay money, get warranty.

Steve

[jonbuoy]

You could still do a compression test & pop the cam cover off and have a look at the state of the valve train - should give you a fairly good idea mechanically.

[Brownstoo]

Buying second-hand motors is always hit and miss, with much much more miss than hit. Roll dice - pay money, get warranty.

Yeah, most anything 2nd had is a coin toss, I'm just trying here to make it less of a risk to myself. The warranty idea's a good one. I'll go for that one.

You could still do a compression test & pop the cam cover off and have a look at the state of the valve train - should give you a fairly good idea mechanically.

A comp test would be splendid! The engine needs to turn over for that though, and then it would probably start and run, and I'd be slightly less worried.
And I hope they don't mind me wanting to rip the top off it though.
What's the main stuff to look for up there?