Numbers on the crank case....

[PSobyra]

i am looking to buy a motor online, and i want to know if i will be able to find out if it is stolen by the numbers stamped on the crank case..... thank for your help folks.

[mtalicarox]

.. that shouts creepy all over it.. I think it MAY depend on the engine for where the stamp is located.. though i believe it (the vin) is stamped on the engine.. not positive though

[Aussie Steve]

Originally Posted by PSobyra

i am looking to buy a motor online, and i want to know if i will be able to find out if it is stolen by the numbers stamped on the crank case..... thank for your help folks.

Depends on where you are. Here in Australia you can ring a number for REVs...register of encumbered vehicles... but usually it is for an entire vehilce not just an engine.

As for where the number is stamped it will usually be either on the crankcase just behind the cylinders or on the crankcase outer cylinder base...LH or RH. This number is only the engine # and does not include the frame # it came out of. I would ask the seller what that number is.

HTH

[DrBob]

A Harley motor will have the VIN number of the motorcycle it come out of stamped on it, so you can have any police or DMV officer run it to see it it is stolen. Metric bikes generally just have an engine number, which may or may not be recorded on the vehicle title depending on what state you live in, and if the bike was ever issued a replacement or rebuild/ salvage title.
If it is a metri motor, probably the best thing you can do is ask the seller for the number (or a photo of the number) so you can run it to see if it is stolen or not (even if you have no plans to actually check). If he balks at all, the motor is probably stolen so skip it. If he sends you the number without hesitation, then he probably has nothing to hide.