Engine scratching sound Universal 25

Mar 4, 2019
140
Hunter 40.5 Baja
Hey all I'm looking at a Catalina for a local bay boat and the engine - a rebuilt universal 5411 sounds good but when the guy started it, it cranked slowly with a grinding or scratching sound in between firings. He said that he never heard it before. could that happen with a weak battery or what could cause that? Thanks