Borescope in Northern California?

[Jeremy5848]

Before I have my 603 engine torn apart (to replace the #2 piston) I'd like to borescope that cylinder, make sure the walls aren't too badly scored to hone. However, none of the local mechanics here in Santa Rosa has access to a borescope. The "tool rental" section of this forum doesn't list one. Anyone in the Northern California area know of a shop that has or can borrow/rent one? It would be worth traveling to get to such a place (the car is drivable) rather than to pull the head and then discover that the engine is toast.

Jeremy

[Jim B.]

San Diego rental?

http://www.global-integrated.com/index.htm

Some leads? Nor Cal suppliers?

http://www.thomasnet.com/nsearch.html?cov=CN&what=Borescopes&heading=7003205&navsec=prodsearch

[vstech]

how would one use one on a IDI motor?
I suppose you could pull the PC's but that SURE is a lot of work... less than pulling head though I guess.

[networkboy]

Somewhere I have a scope that was designed for um... other purposes...
If I can find the thing, and if it works, you can borrow it.

Real problem is, I have *no* idea where it is...
-nB

[kerry]

Harbor Freight sells one I think.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=borescope&Submit=Go

[Jeremy5848]

Originally Posted by vstech

how would one use one on a IDI motor?
I suppose you could pull the PC's but that SURE is a lot of work... less than pulling head though I guess.

You have to pull the injector and the glow plug, then the prechamber. Yes, less work than pulling the head.

Thanks for the leads. The San Diego rental place looks interesting. I have emailed them for their terms, i.e., how do they determine the number of days? If it's door-to-door on their end, it could get expensive. Even with overnight shipping (another expense!) it would be three days on their end. That would more than triple (counting the shipping) the cost of a single-day rental: $275 times 3 plus about $30 each way for overnight shipping is over $800 and if you get the camera option ($75/day) the total is $1100! I'll post here the results when they get back to me.

[edit] OK, they don't consider "in-transit" to be rental days but they do have a 1.5 day minimum, so if they ship on a Tuesday, you get the borescope on Wednesday and do your inspection and ship at the end of the day so they get it back on Thursday, you are charged 1-1/2 days ($412.50) plus FedEx Standard each way ($30-50 each way depending on whether you have an account that gets you cheaper rates). Approximately $500! If you want the camera option (might be nice to have pictures) that's another $112.50. [/edit]

The Harbor Freight scopes are (of course) the cheapies that many stores sell. I have not used one but people who have say they're not very good. Still, I'd like to have one for myself.

This is definitely a situation in which you get what you pay for. Aside from wanting a good image, the borescope must be able to go into the cylinder and twist from side to side so you can inspect the sidewalls.

So I'd still prefer to borrow or rent one locally or travel to a shop that can do the job for me.

Jeremy

[Jeremy5848]

Update: local dealer (Smothers European) has a borescope. They estimate a couple of hours of shop time to pull the prechamber (if the glow plug isn't frozen) and check the # cylinder for scoring. Haven't decided to let them go ahead yet but it's the best offer I've had yet.

[TMAllison]

For two hours shop labor you could easily purchase the tool.....if you were of a mind to check it yourself.

Or buy it and tell your indy you'll give him the tool if he checks it for you at no cost. Get some brownie points and future credits.....

[mobetta]

Rigid seesnake here for $210. has a .7" tip? will it fit?
I checked one out @ the local welding supply house, pretty good graphics.

do you have tools to remove the PC?