Video Borescope

While wandering around the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, I came across a borescope booth that was exhibiting their newest tool, a video borescope. I've always wanted one but the price has always been outside of my budget at several thousand dollars.

I picked it up and stuck the probe through a spark plug hole and then a port...

The screen showed a close up color picture of everything! There is a "video out" plug so you can hook it up to your TV or recorder. It comes in a carrying case and with a few accessories plus a 1 year warranty. I asked the price and seconds later my credit card was on the table. I expect to have mine arrive the first week of January.

I asked about bulk pricing and was offered rep pricing if I wanted to become a distributer. This sounded like a great idea because I can then pass the lower price on to all of you.

The price will be $400 plus shipping until they do their product release which will have them at $459.95. That's still a great deal. 

I want to spend a week or so evaluating the unit when it arrives. If it meets our standards, I will make them available directly from Flowdata. 

 Update:
After a long delay and several rough spots in the road, there is good news and bad news followed by more good news. Here is what I’ve learned.
I chose a Honda CR80 motor to start with because of it’s small bore (1.840”) bore and the fact that it is a two stroke gives some transfer port to look at. Through the plug hole it was instantly clear that the burn pattern on the piston top was good. The screen gives a good color view and it’s easy to distinguish burn patterns and color when looking at piston tops. Cross hatch and scratches in the bore show up clearly.
It is a little tough to keep yourself oriented to where you are because the camera “up” may not be the same as the display “up”. I marked the probe with a white marker so that before insertion “up was up”. That solved the problem.
The view is magnified so tiny movements in the camera appear to be large movements.
Good focus is from ¼” to 10’ and the screen size is perfect in my opinion.
A quick hook up to any TV with a video in RCA plug brings a huge picture.
The 36” flexible probe holds its shape well.
There are 2 extremely bright LED’s that light up the area for the camera. As expected, if you are trying to inspect a shiny area, they can reflect back into the camera. I never found myself short of a well lit inspection point.

I keep finding new things to use it for and it has saved me hours of time. It’s not as good as being able to actually stick your head inside of the area you need to inspect, but it’s miles ahead of taking things apart so that you can see that same area.

Two accessories come in the lockable carrying case, a super magnet and a 90-degree mirror.
The magnet makes a nice tool to rescue the occasional dropped nut or bolt. I located and removed a 5/16” x 2” bolt with ease through the spark plug hole.
The mirror gives you a side view of the area. It clips onto the camera end of the probe. The standard plug hole limits the movement of the probe so it gives you a greater viewing range of the condition of the bore. However, it gives you another axis of rotation and it becomes even more confusing as to where you are because it rotates 360 degrees.
They both attach by the same “C” shaped clip that appears to be made for a different purpose. They are easy to clip on and just as easy to clip off. I lost the mirror twice when I bumped into something. I suggest that they be secured with a piece of electrical tape around the clip opening before use. They also have a small piece of extra plastic that is meant to fit in a groove that doesn’t exist on this unit. I removed it with an Exacto-knife so the clip would fit better.
Dust on the mirror shows on the display as a large white spot.
The bad news:
It seems that a few retailers have decided to sell it as a “loss leader” and their price is lower than I can get them.
The good news:
A search of the internet for “video stik” will get you to their door.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have via e-mail or at 714-817-0567.