Compass Oil, Engine mounts and oxalic acid

[iangrant]

You'd think it a simple request for compass oil - blimey it was like I was after a piece of the surface of Pluto.
Anyway, the events that led to the requirement:
Having removed the compass and the screws that held the glass on (I didn't know the rim held the glass on) it all leaked out over poor old Nigel replacing the engine mounts crouched over underneath - cor did he scream.
Replacement compass oil tip of the day - Johnsons Baby Oil -
Oh and the reason for removing the compass? - the wire had corroded through to the light..bugger..

The engine mounts are all now replaced - PLEASE, PLEASE, all of you, check yours. Three of mine were broken for some time, the engine was only held in by one bolt and the prop shaft, there was no indication of anything wrong . Had it not been for the way the engine sits in a Hallberg it would have been catastrophic when the last one let go.

Oxalic acid crystals - I went into the chemist who said there would be no problem getting tons of the stuff and it would be cheap as well - great me thinks - "sorry I didn't say I could sell it to you" said the chemist - "comes in the wrong packaging"


Ian


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[Johnjo]

I buy it from a local chemist, comes in small plastic pots. £4.80 a go.
If he could not do that for you, would not bother him for anything else in the future!imho

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[BlueSkyNick]

Johnson's Baby Oil - at least you will know where to find some in a hurry, if you want a massage.

Engine Mounts - glad to read all now sorted, without serious injury or damage. A bit worrying - especially if there was no indication at the time of the survey.

Oxalic Acid Crystals - pardon my ignorance, but what do you want them for?

<hr width=100% size=1>I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.

 

[david]

oxalic acid

My local chemist supplied me some no problem, £5.60 for about a kilo, and its only in a plastic bag in a cardboard box.

<hr width=100% size=1>David

 

[iangrant]

Mixed with water they bleach teak, take off the rust spots on stainless steel fittings and the yellow on fibreglass..

Ian

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[ashanta]

You can get a purpose made wood bleach from a reputable wood stockist. It comes in two tins (Similar in shape to the Nitromors tins) with instuctions on the timing of applications. I used some about three years ago to remove water stains to the teak inside my boat which had been caused by water being allowed to slop around in the bilges by the previous owner. The results were very good and the product was very easy and practical to apply.

Regards.

Peter.

Peter.

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[tome]

Ian

Thanks for the warning - I'll check out Amaya's mounts this weekend. Glad to hear it's sorted, you back in yet?

Tom

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[david]

Sodium Percarbonate

Sodium Percarbonate (Oxygen Bleach) do a google, I think you will find it better than Oxalic acid, don't let swmbo get her hands on it though, you won't see it again.

Read about it <A target="_blank" HREF=http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/oxybleach.html>HERE</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>David<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by david on 27/10/2003 19:09 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[pugwash]

UK suppliers

I did a Google and found two suppliers, the most helpful being http://www.chance-Hunt.com/Websites/ChanceHunt/ChanceHunt.nsf/products/sodiumpercarbonate which suggests you phone Maria on 01928-793042 or e-mail mprzeworski@chance-hunt.com

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[nordic_ranger]

Re: Sodium Percarbonate

Hello David,

Have you or anybody else tried Sodium Percarbonate for soaking and washing sails? and what sort of result did you have?

Jim.

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[david]

Re: Sodium Percarbonate

No I haven't tried it on sails, but as it seems ok for most household object I can't see a problem with sails, Try washing a sail bag first, most are made od sail material.

<hr width=100% size=1>David

 

[iangrant]

Tom,
I was surprised when I saw where the engine mounts fail. I always assumed that the rubber split and they fell apart in the middle, not so.
It is the studs that fail at the stress point just under the engine bracket.

I would guess the only way to check is to lever up a corner at a time and try a wiggle about with a feeler guage?

She's back in on Thursday afternoon, new shaft seal et all...etc... etc... The engine is not running yet, awaiting new water pump, good old volvo don't supply the shaft (the bit that wears) in the refurbish kit so it has to be a whole new unit, typical..


Ian


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[bpscmarine]

I would suggest that if you have put baby oil in your compass that might just be the end of your compass if only because the oil is to thick for the compass to work correctly if you contact us we can work out the correct fluid.
Regards
Barry BPSC

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[VicS]

Re: Baby oil too viscous?

Yes I thought that when I first saw the post. Many years ago we were told that the compass in our Sea course contained liquid paraffin so as it always leaked it was topped up regularly with medicinal liquid paraffin, until it became so sluggish as to be almost useless. We then changed to using barbeque lighting fluid, which the analytical chemists reckoned was not much different to domestic heating paraffin. Much later I discovered that the Instruction book said it contained white spirit!!

Earlier this year Neil_S was asking for advice on topping up a Plastimo (I think) compass. He eventually used ordinary paraffin but believes the correct fluid was bay tree oil.

You can get an indication as to whether or not you've got it right by watching how the top up fluid mixes with the original. If youv'e got the right fluid the refractive index will be the same and you won't see them mixing. If they are different the indicies will almost certainly be different and you will see them mixing. If you've really boobed of course they may not mix at all!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[iangrant]

Re: Baby oil too viscous?

The baby oil seems to work fine, it mixed OK on a 50/50 basis with the existing fluid.
France os North isn't it.
Thanks for the advice, if it does go 'orible then may I contact for service?

Ian

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