While working on the long overdue top end refresh on my 86.5 last week, removing the cam chain tensioner on the passenger side, one of the oil tube crush washers disappeared behind the cam. I didn’t see it fall anywhere so I thought it must have been hiding around a lifter or lifter spring. I looked for many hours but couldn’t find it.



I did some Googling and found a post on Pelican where someone had done the same thing on a 944 engine and found the washer with an inspection camera down the oil return passage, so I decided to try the HF inspection camera to see if I could see down this hole in the lower section of the head where oil returns to the oil pan. Yesterday I visited HF which is dangerously close to my house, and found the inspection camera I wanted on sale for $99. I expected a fuzzy B/W picture but one of the employees insisted it was color and had a sharp image.

I got it home and within a few minutes found the washer about 3-4” down the passage below the head gasket, so actually in the block.



The camera comes with some attachments, a hook, a mirror (good for looking sideways at cylinder walls I suppose) and a magnet, but the hook was not long enough and I couldn’t move the camera around anyway to hook the washer, so I used a coat hanger to make a long hook that could be moved independent of the camera, and was able to carefully hook and drag the washer back out of the passage where I could grab it with needle nose pliers. Very happy day!

I definitely recommend this camera, but also recommend the extended warranty ($20 for 2 years) since there are a few comments on the HF web site from people that had issues with it but couldn’t return it after 90 days. The screen is color and very high quality. The camera focuses well between 1 and about 6”, anything closer or farther is not in focus but still visible. My only complaint is that that box says you can capture JPGs but there’s no functionality to do that and no SD slot. There is a video out cable, so you can connect to a TV if you want. The camera is also waterproof so you can stick it down drains and look at fish up close in aquariums (we tested this, very cool :-) )



Hope this info helps anyone that may make this mistake in the future, or is on the fence about buying this camera.

 

Thanks for this! Gotta have one.

 

Me too, thanks a lot. Let the research begin as I tend have over **** pre-purchase research tendencies.

Not an overabundance of info on the HF site. Will it fit through a spark plug hole? How long is it?

 

man thats a cheep inspection cam
I think ILL grab one.
But that one has a 16mm head, this other one will fit in spark plug holes

http://www.harborfreight.com/high-re...der-67980.html

Its a little more coin but it would have given the pics I asked for on the SC 85 Dave had

 

The camera arm is almost too long for automotive work (36") but you can easily form it into a loop when its too long. I just tested the fit through the spark plug hole and sadly it doesn't fit, but the manual says a smaller camera head is available, 5.5mm instead of the standard 16mm. I'll call the 800 number and check on it and post back here what I find.

 

yeah, depending on the cost of the smaller optional camera head, that 189 version may be the way to go since it also has a bigger screen. Might end up upgrading...

 

A few more.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wireless-in...?filterid=u0j1

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...CTION%20CAMERA

http://www.mcmaster.com/#inspection-cameras/=it5s6m

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpa...egories&ks=960

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...atchallpartial


http://www.walmart.com/search/search...h_constraint=0

 

Funny that the 399 Sears camera looks exactly like the 189 HF camera...

 

why not these

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/USB-Endoscope...item3a7827e68e 29.00

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/7M-4-Led-USB-...item5d33d77168 29.00

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2M-USB-Boresc...item1e6e26eb92 20.00

 

This is the one that I bought. After the 20% off coupon, it's ~$150. I've used it about a dozen times so far to inspect cylinders via plug holes, catalytic converters through O2 sensor holes, and a few other odd jobs around the house. I have been very happy with its performance.

 

I have one of these. Small enough to fit down a sparkplug hole. Works with any PC natively via the scanner & camera wizard or any USB camera software. I have a small Netbook I use for running Theo's 928 Diagnostics, Sharktuning, OBD-II (for other cars) and this scope. Adjustable 4 LED light, various cable lengths, etc.

 

Prevention.

It's a good thing.

See my post on this from a couple of years ago.









Regarding inspection cameras, I've used my Ridgid SeeSnake micro (see New toy for you tool junkies (Bigs, this one's for you!)) a number of times to locate and retrieve dropped parts (as well as looking into walls where I was fishing wire, etc.). Great tools to have around, even if you don't use them that often.

 

I did look at the USB cams on eBay and other sites, but in the end decided I wanted a tool I could grab quickly and use in the garage without firing up a laptop. Also, all the USB cams that had attachments seemed to be shipping from China and I don't have the patience for that. Very attractive price though and if you already have a laptop near by, might make sense.

Ed,

Good idea on the foam blocks. I didn't even know that oil passage existed before all this, so didn't think about the possibility of something falling down the hole. I wonder how much those replacement pads are now... about to email Roger and find out.

 

Get ready for a shock.

 

Here's a good deal depending on what "Like New" means.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CEN-TECH.../120960713186?

Somebody grab this one. I ordered one from Amazon for 159.99 + 4.99.