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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Digital Inspection Camera
Posted by: hot_shoe914 Mar 30 2013, 09:54 AM
I know they say you get what you pay for and for the most part that is true. With that being established, does anyone on here have any experience or feedback on the digital inspection camera from Harbor Freight? 
I am considering buying one today but I wanted to here from the experts first. What say you guys?
Posted by: Krieger Mar 30 2013, 09:56 AM
I got the one at Home Depot in October last year. It was about $100. I really like it.
Posted by: hot_shoe914 Mar 30 2013, 10:06 AM
I got the one at Home Depot in October last year. It was about $100. I really like it.
Reason I am asking, Harbor Freight has them on sale for 74.99 which doesn't sound too bad.
Posted by: oldschool Mar 30 2013, 10:32 AM
I got the one at Home Depot in October last year. It was about $100. I really like it.
Reason I am asking, Harbor Freight has them on sale for 74.99 which doesn't sound too bad.
I got that one way-back.used it on many projects...works fine so far.
Posted by: tomeric914 Mar 30 2013, 10:41 AM
I have the Harbor Freight one as well and it works ok. After using it for about a year, I wish that the "head" were a bit smaller to fit inside smaller spaces (like through a spark plug hole). The lighting is adjustable on the HF tool and the screen is rotatable in 90 deg increments (IIRC) as well as the image can be mirrored (IIRC).
One thing it has been a great help with is in throttle and/or clutch cable replacement because you can see inside the tunnel and make sure that the cables aren't twisted together.
Posted by: oldschool Mar 30 2013, 10:45 AM
I have the Harbor Freight one as well and it works ok. After using it for about a year, I wish that the "head" were a bit smaller to fit inside smaller spaces (like through a spark plug hole). The lighting is adjustable on the HF tool and the screen is rotatable in 90 deg increments (IIRC) as well as the image can be mirrored (IIRC).
One thing it has been a great help with is in throttle and/or clutch cable replacement because you can see inside the tunnel and make sure that the cables aren't twisted together.
Posted by: stugray Mar 30 2013, 11:17 AM
HA HA. My brother called me once for a really fast favor, but I was busy.
He wanted me to measure a spark plug to see if the head of the Home Depot (Ryobi I think) would fit down the sparkplug hole.
Since I didnt answer, he bought it anyway.
Well it doesnt fit, but is very useful for other stuff ;-)
Stu
Posted by: hot_shoe914 Mar 30 2013, 12:05 PM
Thanks guys, I owe you all a beer. 
Posted by: tornik550 Mar 30 2013, 01:04 PM
The harbor freight ones go on sale for $59 sometimes. I purchased one a few months back for that price. Has worked well so far. As mentioned- will not fit through spark plug holes (I have 12mm holes- I don't think it would fit through normal 14mm holes either).
Posted by: tomeric914 Mar 30 2013, 02:40 PM
I thought about the Ryobi because the head was smaller, but price won out. According to http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Tek4-Digital-Inspection-Scope-RP4205/202223756#specifications, the cemera head is 0.35" or roughly 9mm.
Posted by: hot_shoe914 Mar 31 2013, 04:53 PM
I thought about the Ryobi because the head was smaller, but price won out. According to http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Tek4-Digital-Inspection-Scope-RP4205/202223756#specifications, the cemera head is 0.35" or roughly 9mm.
The Ryobi Tek4 is now 99.00 and the head would no way fit into a plug hole. However, Milwaukee Tool has one out that is very nice and will fit in the plug holes. Sad part is, it cost $200.00.
Posted by: ArtechnikA Mar 31 2013, 05:41 PM
The harbor freight ones go on sale for $59 sometimes. I purchased one a few months back for that price. Has worked well so far. As mentioned- will not fit through spark plug holes (I have 12mm holes- I don't think it would fit through normal 14mm holes either).
Harbor Fright has a couple of flavors. I bought this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/high-resolution-digital-inspection-camera-with-recorder-67980.html with an 8,5mm probe. No complaints, does what I needed it to. Costco also has one from time to time. I bought the Harbor Fright version because Costco was out when I needed one. Naturally there was a pallet full the very next weekend...
Posted by: saigon71 Mar 31 2013, 06:57 PM
Shoe:
I bought a Cen-Tech inspection camera item #67980 from HF about a year ago...and I am very happy with it. I think I went up from the base model for a smaller head, so it would fit into spark plug holes. It's pretty slick...allows you to take pictures and save them as well.
I would recommend this product as it does everything I need it to do.
In my opinion, on inspection cameras - head size matters.
Bob
Posted by: Krieger Mar 31 2013, 08:06 PM
The home Depot unit fit inside the spark plug hole and has a detachable monitor, attachable magnet, hook. Whistler brand.
Posted by: euro911 Apr 1 2013, 02:04 AM
I think they're [pretty much] all made by the same manufacturer
I had one of the first 'cheeeep' models from HF and it was total crap. Used it a couple of times, then it went out of focus. Never found a way to adjust the focus so I threw it away. It had a large diameter head so it wouldn't fit into a spark plug hole anyway.
I bought the more expensive HF one that does fit inside a spark plug hole. It works fine ... records too 
Posted by: Krieger Apr 1 2013, 09:02 AM
Whatever you do, do not put the camera in your mouth or nostril while it's connected to the TV and your kids are watching. 
Posted by: euro911 Apr 1 2013, 11:10 AM
... so it's OK if you don't? 
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