Toppled compass

[youngr]

Hi,

I've got a standard liquid filled compass on board my mobo. A few weeks ago during a trip the compass toppled (I think it happened when my wife was driving!) Any ideas how to get it back on the needle?

Thanks
Russell

 

[mandlmaunder]

it dont mean a thing if you dont know how to swing
Compass may have taken an internal knock-magnets - cards -techinal dohickies.
find some one to swing your boat/compass.
nb wot you doing leaving d controls!!

 

[William_H]

Presumably you can see clearly that it has become misaligned with the needle point bearings. That would be highly unusual as they should be designed so there is no escape. Possibly the needle itself has snapped off to allow escape. When in transit to the shop it would get a much worse treatemnt than you could ever give it mounted in the boat.

So even if the needle bearing is ok you would have get it back ontot he bearings. if it is filled with fluid that would be almost impssible without removing the fluid and opoening up the compass to remount the card.
Now if it was me I probably would do just that but then it is most likely I would end up throwing the compass away anyway as it is difficult to refill and get good seal and to remove the last bubbles. I have seen the proffessionals actually submerse the whole compass in fluid and apply a vaccuum to remove dissolved air then seal it while under the fluid.

So ave a new one good luck olewill

 

[bilbobaggins]

It's not unheard of that the 'needle-point' or a bearing attached to the card breaks off, due to a manufacturing weakness, or excessive G-loads jumping off big waves. It's unlikely that the card has simply jumped off its mounting, 'cos there normally is no room for that sort of movement without some form of small structural failure.

Sounds like a replacement task.

If you want, I have a fresh tin of the right 'compass oil' with only a few CCs used.

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