rebuild a compass

[Pearson]

Re: rebuild a compass

I am not 100% sure if the fly-in will be in Columbia this year or not. The last I heard, they were going to try to have it back at Columbia this year. I will find out soon and post the results.

[NY86]

Re: rebuild a compass

Hey DC,

Now that you can find your way, why don't you head your boat toward Columbia, CA this comming May for the annual Taylorcraft fly-in.... There are shower facilities, mess hall....

Yeah, but what do they charge for the boat slip?

[lfries]

Re: rebuild a compass

Is it realy Columbia vs. Sonoma.

[Pearson]

Re: rebuild a compass

Hey DC,

Now that you can find your way, why don't you head your boat toward Columbia, CA this comming May for the annual Taylorcraft fly-in. It is always a lot of fun. Columbia is east of Modesto in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. It is an old gold mining town with a lot of tourist appeal. There is a state park along side the east west grass runway where we all camp. There are shower facilities, mess hall, and even BBQ pits for a Sat afternoon cookout. Come join the fun. I am not sure of the exact date this year, but I'll post something when I find out. There are a couple of other guys from your part of CA that come every year.

[flyguy]

Re: rebuild a compass

I have a can of fluid with most of it left over. Whoever mentioned that the slightest imperfection would break glass was correct.

Adjusted my new boat compass using a really nice hiking compass I have, as mentioned here by Pearson (we seem to do a lot of things alike.) Checked against GPS and ground track on 25 minute boat trip the other day, dead on as close as I could drive the boat.

DC

[NY86]

Re: rebuild a compass

Not to spoil anyone's fun, but you can buy "Compass Fluid" from all the usual suspects for a nomimal price. (Why Aircraft Spruce would sell stuff for boats puzzles me, though.)

[dalijohn]

Re: rebuild a compass

Years ago when I worked the bench, it seems that we use alcohol with 1% mineral oil mixed in for dampening. But I don't trust my memory much any more. I see if I can get an answer from the old shop owner.

[mulwyk]

Re: rebuild a compass

Thanks Forrest for the "submerge the whole thing" tip. That works great. The picture shows a compass (a boat compass) submerged in baby oil. I used the bottom half from a 2 quart plastic milk bottle and 20 oz. of baby oil, both from WalMart (the compass came from a boat).

Baby oil is a bit more viscous than the kerosene that was originally in the boat compass. The thicker baby oil makes the compass slower moving and more stable. It's less prone to overshoot the heading and less inclined to hunting and spinning. That's good and my impression was that the baby oil had improved the compass.

However, I was a little worried that baby oil might be too viscous at low temperatures. So last night we set the boat compass outside...it was about 5 below. When we brought it back inside this morning it's operation was definitely sluggish. It took 90 seconds to turn through 180 degrees. After the compass warmed to room temperature it would turn the 180 degrees in about 20 seconds. My conclusion: baby oil compass fluid is great at normal temperatures but might not be best for folks who go boating in very cold conditions.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: rebuild a compass

My IA renewal is 2-13-10 ; CLE FSDO , I have been going to renewals since 1950 with my Dad , an original DAMI ; I was 8 yrs old at the first one...
We just got hit with the snow event hfere in Alliance, everytihing is at a stand still out there . I will fire up big tractor and get started clearing things here sonn!

[freightpilot27]

Re: rebuild a compass

We have had one here in the Detroilet area too.

http://www.greatlakesaviationconference.com/maintenance.php

[magman]

Re: rebuild a compass

FSDO 23 ( Rochester NY) has had a Refresher for several years that is combined with other activities on the airport.

I have a copy of a hearing involving an A & P that was foolish enough to sign off a compass repair. Not nice.

There were folks in this area that had a "Magnetic Compass Overhaul
Repair Station".

It consisted of a Card Table & :

1. A Bowl ( per Forest) & contained parts & can of fluid

2. Compass Repair & Parts Manuals

3. Repair Station Maual & Work Orders.

[astjp2]

Re: rebuild a compass

You actually have a IA refresher in your region? Wow, I thought that alaska was the only one left to have the budget. Tim

[Forrest Barber]

Re: rebuild a compass

They become sticklers right after the accident involving a suit happy dead passengers family members.
"Compass fluid" can be purchased lots of places. to get the compass "full" requires a knack , in the old days when we ( A&P) could do this major repair we would have a can of compass fluid and submerge the whole thing till the bubbles stopped. there is a bladder in the system that comes with the repair kit. I am going to my IA refresher in two weeks and will talk with the CLE FSDO & MIDO about a lot of things.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: rebuild a compass

That would cover it, but I thought it was more specific than that. Interesting thing is that one would prevent you from even centering a ROC needle with the little adjuster screw in the lower left mount hole. There is no knob for the pilot and it takes a tool so I would think it might fall under "calibration" if the IA was a stickler.
Hank

Don't let anyone see you do it.

[dalijohn]

Re: rebuild a compass

Hank, look at FAR 43, Appendix A(b)(4)(i)

"Appliance major repairs. Repairs of the following types to appliances are appliance major repairs:

(i) Calibration and repair of instruments."