zwede

Thought I'd share my experience with inexpensive USB borescopes. I use them to check carbon buildup on intake valves and pistons.

There are tons of these cameras on ebay and Amazon, and most of them are junk. Common problem is a very dark picture and/or heavy blue tint due to cheap LEDs.

I've found one camera that produces a good picture so wanted to share it so you guys don't waste money on one of the crap ones.

Here's the good camera:


Although it looks like it's been superseded by this one:


Here are some examples of the pictures it can take:

SH-60B

Thanks zwede, I'm sold!

Danish Shark

Looks like it's time to upgrade my old one

20mercury

Question please:

(also please excuse my dumb question, as I went through school with a slide rule and when electric typewriters were high tech, hmmm....)

So do you just plug this dude into your computer? and do you need special software, wow, this is way cool! And most importantly, it must fit through a spark plug hole?

Much thanks for sharing!!

Shark Racer

Can you turn the illumination light off?

zwede

Yes, they are USB cameras that comply with something called the "UVC standard". Depending on your OS you may or may not need to install a driver. See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_video_device_class

My computer is running Linux and I just plugged it in and it worked. I use a common Linux application called "guvcview" to watch the camera output live and take snapshots. The cameras come with SW for windows, but I haven't tried it, so no idea how good it is.

The camera head is 10mm (3/8") diameter so it fits in a spark plug hole. I have to turn the crank so the piston is down to get a good view.

Yes, there's a wheel on the USB plug that controls the light. It's not just on/off, you can adjust how bright it is. The pics above are at full bright. If the surface is reflective I sometimes have to turn it down.

454Luvr

I think you posted this too late. The one you're using appears to be discontinued. Unless you've already tried the scope being sold in the 2nd link, there's no way to know if it's any good. Like you said, most of them are junk.

mikep3

Here is a video on USB scope, they are about $30. They can work off your phone.

zwede

You're right. The 2nd link is to one by the same manufacturer but that doesn't really mean anything. It may well be junk. Good thing they're cheap, the one I'm using now was the 3rd one I bought. The first two were so bad I just threw them away. First one was so dark I couldn't see anything and the second everything was blue.

ddawson

I use the same DBPOWER.

I've used to to see how far off a square to Roval heads are. Also helped show me why my oil dipstick would seat down incorrectly.

c3_dk

Please do, so I can borrow

cardo0

Man for 20 bucks i had to try one. Ordered one last night. Used reviews to choose from the bunch. Says good for tablet use so we will see. Cable kinda long though - 5m.

Thx for the tip zwede.

454Luvr

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but from what I've read, the majority of these won't focus close enough to be useful inside a motor. If anyone here buys a cheap one that actually works - good lighting, color and minimum focus distance - please post the model number right away so the rest of us can grab one.

ddawson

Looking down though my oil dip stick



Inside the intake manifold were it meets the head.



I've got a couple of the piston though the spark plug hole I can upload. Sure if it's too close to an object it can't focus but you just back it up a little until you have a clean picture.

marshal135

Id like to look inside my frame rails with that just for curiosity.
Marshal

454Luvr

Too bad that scope doesn't have a grinding wheel on the end.

Seriously, which model is that?

Danish Shark

John, you can have the old one for free. It only worked on Windows so I have no use for it.

/Karsten

ddawson

LS6 square port intake to Edelbrock roval heads.

Here is a better shot. The top is were the mis match is.



One more shot of the piston before I fired it for the 1st time.

Inspection Camera

yes they are all good quality .how about Anysun Pipe Camera on amazon .they are also very good .

marshal135

I have a colonoscopy next Friday.
Maybe I can borrow my doctors scope.
I'm sure it has great magnification.
Marshal