Compass removal

charliespan

charliespan

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I've got a small bubble in my compass and intend to pack it off to S.I.R.S. as soon as I can remove it from the boat. Trouble is , I can't quite work out how.

Its a "Marco Polo" binnacle mounted compass which also has the name "BEN" on the card. There are small holes surrounding the base which I have "GENTLY" probed with a screwdriver but can't ascertain the fixing method.

mpolo1-1.jpg


mpolo2-1.jpg




Can anyone help? Boat is a Gib'sea 106.

Thanks

CS
 
Join the club......I'm having probs with my compass too (not the same type).

In the photo....looks like screws around the top flange? Maybe they secure the actual compass to the white housing?
 
Thanks Eeyore and Sailorman.
I did look at the small screws around the flange but they appear to be part of a gasket that I'd rather not touch. I don't know if the holes around the base are for compensation adjustment or fixing screws.

I'll give it another try tomorrow.
 
Can't help with the removal, but before you ship it off for repair, undo the screw and invite SWMBO to sniff the oil.... see if she recognises it.
My Plastimo Contest 100 topped up perfectly two years ago with Johnsons baby oil (2.50 a bottle) ands a plastic pipette (50p) , both from the local chemists!
 
I had the same problem on a Bendytoy 35...
The screws round the rim of the bowl are the way in. Problem is, which one? If I remember rightly, half the screws hold the globe together, while the other half hold the globe onto its "dustbin"!
First remove the light-shade by undoing its thumb-knobs.
Then start undoing the small SS screws round the rim.
You've got a 50% chance of getting it right first time- if you do, remove alternate screws. If the oil starts dribbling out, little bubbles form very quickly! Need I tell you to STOP and move to the next screw?
 
THOSE in particular are NOT the ones needed.
Mine is identical, and I did this mistake recently, only to find more air inside.
Then I realised you first have to remove-as ADAMATOR points out- the light-shade by undoing its thumb-knobs. Only then you will see one or two quite different screws and those are the ones.
And of course the holes around the base are for compensation adjustment and NOT fixing screws.
Good luck
george
 
No...it isn't the one!

That's the diagram for a Sestrel Major Compass (same as mine) and not a Marco Polo Compass as fitted to Charliespan's boat.

My Sestrel is held into the housing by four screws (6901), located at roughly NE, SE, SW and NW position, assuming the boat facing North. All the other screws hold the two halves of the globe together.
 
Close but with differences - the base is not scalloped and the filler hole is on the "equator" of the bowl.

I spoke to S.I.R.S. the compass people at Meopham. They declined to fix it as their business is now more aviation orientated.

They did point me towards a guy called Barry Phillips of BPSC in Southampton . He provisionally identified it as made by "BEN" who were a French company somehow connected with Danforth??

I've check tightened all the gasket screws and no more air seems to be coming in. I'm tempted to have a go myself by either:

- topping up the fluid if someone like Gnatsis (George) can identify which one to use.

-Cheating (as it is only a small bubble) and carefully remove the filler plug and gently depress the diaphragm till the bubble is displaced. As long as I avoid Arctic or Equatorial temperatures this may be alright.

What do the panel think ?
 
"As long as I avoid Arctic temperatures......."

Perhaps not quite correct. See extract from the Sestrel Major Repair procedure below.


b) Place the unit in a refrigerator at approximately 2 deg.C. for a period of 2 hours together with a container
with some top up fluid. Remove the unit and top up the assembly with the spare fluid and seal using the
washer (2324) and Feed Screw (3133). (This procedure is for compass repairs where a full repair facility is
not available).

Good luck, it's my turn next - when I get a new gasket and 2 litres of Bayol-35.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Mine was a small bubble like yours, and I went for your option number 2.
It is still ok. Of course by the book you go the fridge way etc.
If I had to top up I would add turpentine.
 
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