Bubble in my Sestrel

[lesweeks]

I remember reading some previous posts where some suggested that Baby Oil is a good replacement for what ever the liquid is inside a Sestrel compass. I've got a big bubble and a cloudy dome! Any wise ones out there with some sound advice?

 

[Peterduck]

Fixing a bubble is usually no big deal, and baby oil is a workable fluid. However, the clouding of the plastic dome is a whole different ball game, and I think that you may have to talk to S.I.R.S. about that. They would, of course fix the bubble problem with the correct fluid.
Peter.

 

[Seagreen]

I think that the cloudy dome is rust-like oxidisation! On older compasses, sometimes the fluid is a mix of alcohol and water, and if the alcohol gradually evaporates off (hence the bubble), the water concentration can rise to a point where it will "rust" (no steel in compasses) the mountings slightly. Drain off, flush and replace with higher alcohol solution, or other recipe. There are loads on the forum if you search.

 

[dickh]

A cloudy dome is usually due to UV. You'll have to get a new dome(if possible) and then make a cover for it so it doesn't happen again.

 

[Casey]

Take a look at:

http://www.bpsc-marine.co.uk/

They are in Southampton and very helpful.

 

[lesweeks]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I agree that it looks like UV damage to the acrylic (?) dome. I'm in touch with Barry at BSPC who I'm sure will sort me out.

 

[mel80]

I recently renovated an old sestrel compass. I contacted SIRS directly who were able to provide replacement compass fluid. Not sure if this woks better than the baby oil but it isn't cheap! I removed the air from the fluid (prior to filling the compass) by leaving it in a small vacuum chamber for about 1/2 an hour. That meant that the small bubble, that is inevitably left when you fill it, was quickly aborbed back into the fluid. If you can't get access to a vacuum chamber then perhaps putting the fluid in a freezer on a day when the atmospheric pressure is particularly low might have a similar effect.

 

[FAITIRA]

Not using the correct fluid could be an expensive "economy". Try SIRS they were good when I had the same prob with a Sestral, it was a burst diaphram.