why is my compass wonky?

[julians]

I have a Suunto compass ,not sure of the model,but it's the type that has the compass 'floating' in some form of liquid.

When I left the boat 3 weeks ago it was fine,but now I've come back to the boat the floating part is not floating level any more.,it's floating at about 20 degrees off horizontal.

Is the compass knackered or can I repair it?

 

[Aardee]

Is it still floating, or has all the oil escaped somewhere?

 

[julians]

The oil is still in it, and it's still floating and spinning normally.

I've actually fixed it for now, although I suspect it's only a temporary repair. I unscrewed it from it's mount,tipped it upside down and then gently righted it ,now it's floating level. Looks Like an air bubble was caught under the compass part. No idea how it got there,maybe I have a leak?

 

[Aardee]

Most odd, not sure how an air bubble could have got trapped like that...

 

[jon711]

Sounds like the balance weights may have come loose. On the compass card there are weights to allow for different latitudes (imagine that in UK compass card would lean down towards the pole more than it would at the equator). Moving the compass may have temporarily realigned them. If it is the balance weights no real fix, but straight replacement of the compass.

Jon