Bruce Tuncks Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 USB cameras are quite cheap now, and I have read about using them to inspect the inside of your engine by putting the camera head into a spark plug hole. But to see the valves, your camera needs to be looking back up its own lead, and the ones I have seen advertised don't seem to do this very well. There is one which comes with a 45 degree mirror, which may be ok but I wonder if 45 degrees is enough to see the valves properly. Is anybody using a borescope or camera to look at their valves? I'm sure quite a few of us would be interested to know what your experience has been.
Old Koreelah Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 Mine cost about $120 and comes with a near-90 degree mirror, plus other tools.
kgwilson Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 Bought my borescope from Aldi for $59.00 & it has a mirror with a near 90 deg look back & some other hooks & things I haven't used yet. Works well & has a 1.5 & 2 x zoom & can re orientate the view 90 deg 180 deg & 270 deg. Fits down the spark plug hole OK & connects to other monitors & the video can be recorded. The led brightness can be varied or turned off. Seems robust & has a 3 year warranty.
jetjr Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 I have one with several mirrors, without mirror its very good, but with them really cant see well enough but good for some jobs. Theres a nice one from US around $300 AU and it has end that bends remotely 180 deg. Only 8mm dia head Its usb and uses laptop as screen
Yenn Posted September 17, 2015 Posted September 17, 2015 I've never used one, but have seen some good results posted on the web, but mainly Lycomings and Continentals, which are big bore compared to Rotax and Jab
Bruce Tuncks Posted September 18, 2015 Author Posted September 18, 2015 I've actually been loaned a borescope but it has no mirrors and so all you see is the piston. In order to see the valves, I guess you could lower a mirror to sit on the piston top. I haven't tried this. I have seen pictures of a 45 degree mirror which enables you to look at 90 degrees to the camera shaft would give a view of the bore but not the valves. There is a 180 degree one shown on google but it has an umbrella-handle bend at the camera and I don't see how it would pass through a spark-plug hole. If there was a camera with an electrical lead and not a fibre-optic lead then this would take a tight bend I guess. I'll be interested if your aldi one works ok to see the valves kg. 1
M61A1 Posted September 18, 2015 Posted September 18, 2015 The umbrella shape is usually a spring. It is fed into a combustion chamber with a rod down the centre which hold it out straight. The rod is removed after insertion. The bores cope is then fed down the springy umbrella handle bit and it curls back 180 deg.
Litespeed Posted September 18, 2015 Posted September 18, 2015 I have a simple cheap one from Supacheap and a mate has a the Aldi one. Both have a attachable mirror. I used mine to inspect the valves on my 5 valve Yamaha head, worked well. The head is smaller than a Jabiru and valves are tiny. Also used for inspecting the ports and topside of valves. I just bent the mirror mount to suit my needs. Mine is USB so able to use laptop and get a much larger image. I also used it to fish out bits of a broken starter clutch on my bros SV650 (has a attachable magnet). This saved a complete engine rebuild. So was worth its weight in gold to me. Since they are cheap- really is worth giving a go, and you can make mods to attachments if needed. The Aldi one is also good as it has its own monitor and is self contained. The pro style boroscopes I expect are much better but cost a lot more. Are also fun for inspecting anything you wish- mouth, ears, nose or........................I will leave that to imagination. Also great in car mechanical work or even inspections inside wings etc. Mine has a two meter metal snake. 1
jetjr Posted September 18, 2015 Posted September 18, 2015 Mirrors didnt work , i have several in camera kit if someone wants to buy them. See here articulating type which would be much better http://www.oasisscientific.com/vividia-va-400-ridid-usb-articulating-borescope-videoscope-inspection-camera.html Push the button on end and camera turns back on itself. Should be small enough for most small engines With all the valve problems, getting pics each service would be valuable Could look back up exhaust or inlet ports fairly simply 2
Bruce Tuncks Posted September 20, 2015 Author Posted September 20, 2015 Thanks guys. Good advice and just what I was hoping for.
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