I've been trying to get rid of a bubble in my Riche compass but all my attemps thus far have been in vein. Does anyone know of a way to remove it? I've turned the compass upside down, taken off the cover, put on a 6" rubber collar, filled that with Riche compass fluid and turned the whole thing in every direction I can but air is always trapped some where.I know there has to be a way. Who has the answer?
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Air in compass
If you've got an air bubble in your compass, it would seem to indicate you have a leak. My guess is that nothing you do will get rid of the bubble until you find, and fix (if possible) the source of the leak. I had an old Richie on a previous boat that also had an air bubble. Since the compass fluid could be refilled on that model, I just added a bit more fluid now and then with the same stuff you are using. I thought about sending the compass back to Richie, but I think it was cost prohibitive. The compass worked fine with the bubble as long as I kept it as full as possible with fluid. I learned to live with it...
If you've got an air bubble in your compass, it would seem to indicate you have a leak. My guess is that nothing you do will get rid of the bubble until you find, and fix (if possible) the source of the leak. I had an old Richie on a previous boat that also had an air bubble. Since the compass fluid could be refilled on that model, I just added a bit more fluid now and then with the same stuff you are using. I thought about sending the compass back to Richie, but I think it was cost prohibitive. The compass worked fine with the bubble as long as I kept it as full as possible with fluid. I learned to live with it...
J
J.B. Dyer
Try this
Hi Ken: If you have a leak, your going to have to take Warrens advise. If not, take the compass out of the collar and put it in the freezer along with your compass fluid. That's right, freezer, it will condense the fluid. Fix your compass where the fill orafice is located level and at the top, use a bubble level if necessary, and then inject the fluid into the orafice until it runs out. Put your finger on the hole and rotate it slightly to see if you still have a bubble and if you do, continue to manipulate the compass until it comes out of the hole, add a little more fluid and put the screw back in. You may still be able to see a very small pin point size bubble, but it will dissapear when the fluid reaches room temp. This method was recommended by Richie when I replaced the dome on mine. If you have some type of Richie, and I don't believe that they make one, without a fill hole, your out of luck unless you send it in to Richie. Hope this helps!
Hi Ken: If you have a leak, your going to have to take Warrens advise. If not, take the compass out of the collar and put it in the freezer along with your compass fluid. That's right, freezer, it will condense the fluid. Fix your compass where the fill orafice is located level and at the top, use a bubble level if necessary, and then inject the fluid into the orafice until it runs out. Put your finger on the hole and rotate it slightly to see if you still have a bubble and if you do, continue to manipulate the compass until it comes out of the hole, add a little more fluid and put the screw back in. You may still be able to see a very small pin point size bubble, but it will dissapear when the fluid reaches room temp. This method was recommended by Richie when I replaced the dome on mine. If you have some type of Richie, and I don't believe that they make one, without a fill hole, your out of luck unless you send it in to Richie. Hope this helps!
D
Dan McGuire
Compass
It would appear that many old compasses eventually develop air bubbles. Mine did no have a fill hole. I drilled a 1/16" hole in the top and topped it off with mineral oil with a small syringe. I resealed it by taking a ball point pen and melting the plastic over the hole with a sodering iron. I did this on the top as opposed to the bottom since I was not confident in my ability to seal it. It has held for the past year.
It would appear that many old compasses eventually develop air bubbles. Mine did no have a fill hole. I drilled a 1/16" hole in the top and topped it off with mineral oil with a small syringe. I resealed it by taking a ball point pen and melting the plastic over the hole with a sodering iron. I did this on the top as opposed to the bottom since I was not confident in my ability to seal it. It has held for the past year.
J
Jonathan
Bubbles? No troubles.
I don't imagine marine compasses are much different than those in aviation, and I've worked with them for 11 years. I've seen dozens of "wet" compasses with air in them, and it's never affected them that I could tell. Maintenance has never serviced a compass until the fluid level drops close to halfway down the drum. The kerosene, or mineral oil is only there to dampen the swinging movement of the drum or disk. Bear in mind: air compresses, oil does not. If you do manage to remove all of the air, especially if you use that freezer method, you may blow a seal as the oil warms and expands, especially if the compass is exposed to strong, direct sunlight. I'd recommend leaving a small ammount of air in the glass. It will expand and contract with the temperature of the oil, but if it keeps growing larger, then you have a leak.
I don't imagine marine compasses are much different than those in aviation, and I've worked with them for 11 years. I've seen dozens of "wet" compasses with air in them, and it's never affected them that I could tell. Maintenance has never serviced a compass until the fluid level drops close to halfway down the drum. The kerosene, or mineral oil is only there to dampen the swinging movement of the drum or disk. Bear in mind: air compresses, oil does not. If you do manage to remove all of the air, especially if you use that freezer method, you may blow a seal as the oil warms and expands, especially if the compass is exposed to strong, direct sunlight. I'd recommend leaving a small ammount of air in the glass. It will expand and contract with the temperature of the oil, but if it keeps growing larger, then you have a leak.
J
J.B.Dyer
Jonathan FYI
Richie marine compasses have an expansion/contraction chamber located in the bottom of the instrument to allow for expansion and contraction of the fluids.
Richie marine compasses have an expansion/contraction chamber located in the bottom of the instrument to allow for expansion and contraction of the fluids.
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