Engine Hour Meter

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A used Lincoln Ranger 250 is advertised on Craigslist as having 5175 hours on the engine hour meter.  Is there any way to determine if the hour meter has already logged 9999 hours and is now at over 15,000 hours?
Reply:Naw, probably not. Most engine hour meters are just another form of electric clock. If it got power it runs. Lots of ways to probably cheat. You can jumper in power to make it run to the reading you want with the engine itself not running, or disconnect to stop it for a time, easier with the mechanical versions. Some you might be able to get in and turn the dials with tooth pick or something similar. Cutting the meter is pretty common in lots of applications. There will be tricks of the trade.If they want to cheat they will. Some places fraud is a way of life.Best to just compare the overall machine condition with what the meter is indicating the service was. If it is supposed to have low hours, it should act / look like it.Last edited by CosmicRambler; 10-12-2011 at 04:59 PM.Reason: spelling
Reply:Thanks for the insight.  I figure 5000 hours is about a year and a quarter of running 40 hours a week.  How many hours do you guess the Kohler engine can run before it needs to be rebuilt?  Would a Ranger 250 be worth a thousand dollars after a year of constant use?  Thanks in advance, Fred.
Reply:A 40 work week for 52 weeks is 2080 hours. So 5175 hours is almost 2.5 years run time normal working hours.The rest of it I have no idea. Maybe somebody else can help with that.
Reply:How many more hours could that kohler engine run?  Oh its only about 5-10 hours away from blowing up.  5000 hrs is the total run time for a kohler motor.  I would walk away from it.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:Hello Fred, that amount of hours is certainly plenty, especially when you consider that it is air-cooled and a high-rpm motor by most standards. Have you spoke to the owner, has it possibly been rebuilt anywhere along the line? Have you had a chance to hear it run? Was it used in an industrial setting(hours would indicate that very likely)? The price isn't completely unreasonable, yet if you buy it and then 2 weeks down the road it grenades then where are you at? Might also depend on your plans for it, if you're only going to use it occassionally, it might fit your needs for a long time. Certainly consider the many different suggestions from your thread here and in the end go with your gut, you'll likely make a reasonable and informed decision. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald