"Affordable" Borescopes
12-10-2004, 11:38 PM
#1
Instructor
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"Affordable" Borescopes
I have been thinking that it would be cool to inspect a bore without having to remove then head - the time savings would be enormous. So I found this reasonably priced fiberoptic scope by a company called Pro Vision:
http://www.provision100.com/products_b.html
The model 636's price is around $250. From what I can tell, the Pro Vision's cable is flexible but not the maneuverable type like the military uses; the field of view is limited to 40 degrees. Has anyone here used one of these scopes? What could you see or not see? I am trying to determine if this could be a useful tool or merely a toy.
http://www.provision100.com/products_b.html
The model 636's price is around $250. From what I can tell, the Pro Vision's cable is flexible but not the maneuverable type like the military uses; the field of view is limited to 40 degrees. Has anyone here used one of these scopes? What could you see or not see? I am trying to determine if this could be a useful tool or merely a toy.
12-11-2004, 12:42 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
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they are not that great, I have used one and there are severe limits to what you can see. The field of view is fairly narrow, if you want to look at the top of the piston, it works fine, but if you want to look at a cyl. wall or the valves, you can't.
12-11-2004, 01:37 AM
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To properly inspect a bore you need tools like a micrometer, feeler gauge, and a t-gauge. If you buy that tool and you see a scored cylinder for example, you will have no idea how deep the score is, so what is the point. You are going to have to remove the head then anyway. I would just do a leakdown test to inspect the bore, or at worst a compression test.
12-11-2004, 09:13 AM
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I have an Idea... what about one of the small, micro CCD cameras with an LED hi intensity light strapped to it??
These as super cheap and you could attach it to a stiff wire, drop it in the spark plug hole and view on a laptop.
These as super cheap and you could attach it to a stiff wire, drop it in the spark plug hole and view on a laptop.
12-11-2004, 09:48 AM
#6
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Why wouldn't you be able to inspect a cylinder wall? Just insert it through the spark plug hole with a small "L" 90-degree bend near the head (according to the site, the camera / light cable retains its set geometry) and slowly rotate it. As long as that piston is at or close to BDC you should get a nice look at the cylinder walls. . .
Of course a compression & leakdown tester is only about $70.
Of course a compression & leakdown tester is only about $70.
12-11-2004, 02:25 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Of course a compression & leakdown tester is only about $70.
