| Author | Message | ||
     Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1853 Registered: 5-2012 |
Can anyone recommend a borescope? I once tried one out but found the focal length was far too short for my purposes. Anything over 3 inches was a blur. I'm looking for one that will focus like a normal camera but with the ability to get in awkward places, like behind the engine or down by the hydraulic accumulators. I notice you can get low cost ones that use a laptop screen, that plug in through the USB port. I was wondering if anyone had used any of these. Geoff | ||
| Alan Dibley Prolific User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2009 |
I bought a USB borescope, but because I'm a penny-pinching miser, it was a cheap one. Rubbish! After trying it on a few jobs I threw it away. Buy one from a dealer/shop who knows. Alan D. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 1362 Registered: 4-2009 |
I bought a cheap and cheerful borescope and it was just excellent!! https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Endoscope-5-5mm-Lens-2M-5M-10M-USB-Endoscope-Red-2IN1-Inspection-Camera-Endoscopio-Android-OTG/32703901315.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.WK8hsv works well with my mobile phone. | ||
| ross kowalski Grand Master Username: cdfpw Post Number: 638 Registered: 11-2015 |
Omar, You got the fancy one. I bought a 1m and a 3m for just a little more. While they are super cheap, they both work great. Don't use them often, but when you need them they are huge time savers. | ||
| ross kowalski Grand Master Username: cdfpw Post Number: 639 Registered: 11-2015 |
Geoff, I can send you one of mine if you want. I really don't need two. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1854 Registered: 5-2012 |
Thanks for your replies. Alan - I too bought one a few years back and returned it. I don't think it was particularly bad - it just didn't meet my expectations. Omar - I have just ordered one. Thanks for the recommendation. Ross - I decided to buy one off the net which will save you the hassle of boxing it up and mailing it to me - I very much appreciate your kind offer. I realize now that what I'm really looking for is something with a much larger focal length than what is normally available. The link that Omar gave me lists one with a focal length of 5cm to infinite so it will be interesting to see how it performs. In any case it is always useful to have such a tool available in the garage for very close up work. What I would like would be a standard camera with a zoom lens, but very small so I can get it in the crevices of the car. I did see such an instrument on the net but at $3000 it was a little above my budget of $20. I do have an immediate use - My rear accumulator appears to have sprung a leak  . The brake fluid is dripping onto the exhaust pipe. It would be so useful if I could get a camera in there and locate the source of the leak. Geoff | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 1363 Registered: 4-2009 |
Dear Geoff, I had a hydraulic oil leak at the back of my Azure. It turned out to be the two flexible hoses that feed the rear rams. I think these are specific to the Azure though. Which car do you have the leak on? Good luck with the scope. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1856 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Omar My car is a shadow 1 (SRX18501). The leak is coming from the accumulator area or it may be the high pressure feed pipe that's routed between the rear of the engine. I noticed this had been brazed at some time (before I owned the car) and I'm wondering if the braze has failed. I've recently replaced all the brake hoses on my car so they were the first thing I checked when I saw the brake fluid dripping down. I was hoping they would be responsible but they are ok. The leak is definitely coming from the accumulator area but I can't get in close enough to determine precisely where the leak is. I sent off for the boroscope you linked to. Delivery is 10 days however I was amazed at the low price. I suspect the Yuan/USD exchange rate makes this possible. Whilst I am waiting I will attempt to have a closer look or maybe even try getting close enough with my video camera. I just don't want to remove the accumulators until I am absolutely sure the leak is coming from them. I had noticed the firm AliBaba before but they always sell in bulk. I'm wondering if AliExpress is their retail portal. If so, they will certainly give Amazon a run for their money. Geoff | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 872 Registered: 4-2012 |
Geoff the leak is more than likely the O ring between the accumulator and the sphere, the pipe can seize in the connecting nut and when you try to loosen it the pipe twists and by the time you realize what is happening the pipe is destroyed, a new pipe from flying spares is approx £150 I imagine that is what happened in the past and a repair was made hence the brazing, all of the above happened to me earlier this year. Richard. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1857 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Richard I fear you are right regards the accumulator/sphere O-ring. I will try feeling to see if the acv is dry and the sphere wet, or I may wait the 10 days for the boroscope to arrive and get on with another job I want to carry out. I'm not relishing having to remove the accumulators again. The puddle forms below the rear one, which means both will have to be removed (my car is a 74 SY1). The good news is I've done the job before so what took 2 days will be done in 2 hours (famous last words). The other job I mentioned is the solenoid operated boot lock. I didn't realize the series 1 had these until I noticed (after 5 years of ownership) that there was a push button switch in the glove box. I would like to get it working. Geoff | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 874 Registered: 4-2012 |
Geoff my car is also a 1974 S1, SRH 19529. Richard. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1858 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Richard Yours is more recent then mine - SRX18501. Does the boot lock button in the glove box work on your car? I notice the switch is a click on click off type. Do you know the operation of it i.e. does it just unlock the boot or does it toggle the lock in some way. Geoff | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1645 Registered: 9-2004 |
On my SS1 SRH 17766 the glove box boot switch is also a push button. Once the central locking is activated the boot catch lock can only be released with the push switch or key. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1652 Registered: 9-2004 |
Back on track, the one I use is a Draper been faultless in operation, keep batteries well charged before use. spec pix  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehO2i82j9sE | ||
| Maxwell Heazlewood Prolific User Username: tasbent Post Number: 111 Registered: 9-2017 |
Hello Gents....yes, a very useful tool the endoscope/boriscope. This is the model I decided on mainly because the camera head is small enough at 8.2mm to be able to go down plug holes. https://www.amazon.com/Potensic-Digital-Endoscope-Borescope-Waterproof-Camera-Diameter/dp/B00XN1H6HI/ref=sr_1_11?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1512015188&sr=1-11&keywords=borescopes+inspection+cameras&refinements=p_n_shipping_option-bin%3A3242350011 You can learn a lot about an engines condition this way. And bodywork cavities to check on corrosion and a myriad of other tasks. | ||
| Mark Luft Prolific User Username: bentleyman1993 Post Number: 143 Registered: 10-2016 |
Max, does the 5m long cable get in your way? | ||
| Maxwell Heazlewood Prolific User Username: tasbent Post Number: 114 Registered: 9-2017 |
Mark....not if your work before hand where to put the cable as it is fairly rigid. I have found that if you work the same way as the cable would normally coil, you have no problem. I find the 5 mtr length very useful especially for bodywork purposes, sills and the like to get a good idea of what is going on inside closed body sections. |
