Reading data from various outboards?

[RMB]

Is there a diagnostic tool available to the public that would allow someone to read the hours (and fault codes) of various brands of outboards?

I'm always in the market for fishing boats. Most of the ones I look at (say 1995-2005ish) don't have an hour meter. I'd love to have a diagnostic tool that I could plug into that type of engine and get verifiable data.

I found this on Amazon for a Yamaha motor. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGY7GFD?tag=walleyecentralcon-20

Any idea of if it actually works?

Ideally I'd like something for Yamaha and Merc, but maybe that is asking too much.

 

[dingbat]

Hours are a meaningless measure of condition. A test drive and a compression test Is a better measure of condition.

Besides, don't know of any pre-2000 motors with ecm to give you data

 

[jimmbo]

1997, 98, and 99 FICHTs had ECMs

 

[Sea Rider]

An hour meter only shows run hours, doesn't state the condition of the motor. Are excellent for preventive maintenance schedules, all boats should count with one. So if your car's odometer doesn't work its OK ?

Happy Boating

 

[Scott Danforth]

Rinda will tell you what the ECM hours are.

https://www.rinda.com/marine/

however as others stated, Hours do not = condition.

I would rather buy a well maintained motor with 1500 hours than a 15-25 year old motor with less than 500 hours

on a 15 year old motor if it was used a moderate amount, it should have 750 hours plus
on a 25 year old motor, it should have well over 1250 hours.

if its significantly less hours, the motor sat a lot...... which is worse than being used every day.