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Whiskey Compass Leaks


carqwik

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My compass leaks...only on climbout. 

1998 Bravo...any one know what brand of compass it is?  And how do I repair it (e.g., stop the leak, refill fluid)?  I ran into my local A&P at the airport, he said there's a kit on Aircraft Spruce.  Of course, I don't know the brand of compass.  The repair kits are for the "Airpath Compass."

Thoughts & suggestions welcome. I am a very low skill guy with tools btw.

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8 hours ago, carqwik said:

Any tips or tricks to removing it and fixing it?

Thanks for the replies so far....!

Don't go anywhere near it with a magnetic screwdriver! (unless you want to swing it again)

A small syringe or eye-dropper for getting the last bit of fluid in

I repaired one in an earlier aircraft and it performed fine afterwards. IIRC it needs an A&P signoff

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Update:  I got the Aircraft Spruce Repair kit.  Went to the plane today...took me a little while to figure out how to get it out but all-in-all, pretty easy once I got that far.

The rubber diaphragm in the back of the unit was somehow deformed although it did not appear to be torn and I believe the edges completely were sealed between the case and the back outer shell.  No idea why it leaked.  So I replaced the diaphragm with the kit part and also applied the cork gasket to the front glass as well.  Rotated it around and did not notice any leaks.

One thing though, I didn't completely fill it with the compass fluid (white kerosene?).  When level, the fluid level does come to the top of the glass but there is an air pocket in the compass remaining.  Not sure if that is a problem or not.

Also, by accident, I had to use a bigger screwdriver to get the one screw in the back (which holds the unit to the Mooney molding) and grabbed one off the shelf...I barely touched that screw before thinking to check if it was magnetized.  So I tested it and it was...shit!  Doesn't appear to make the compass off though. 

Total job took about 1.5 hours.  Anyone with more skills it would be about half that amount or less.

 

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Crap - After further research, I now see why it has to be completely filled without air inside...  (Let's see how lower air pressure up high will deform the diaphragm!!)  Darn, now I have to go back to the airport and redo the whole thing.

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  • 2 years later...

My 1989 M20M compass just started leaking.  It is now about half full of fluid.  I purchased the Airpath overhaul kit from Aircraft Spruce, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out how to remove the compass from the glareshield.  It turns in its mount, but I cannot figure out what is holding it in place.  My A&P thinks there is a screw in the back holding it in place, but the frame running behind the compass is in the way to get to the back of the compass.  My A&P cannot get to my plane for another couple weeks, so I am trying to get it removed and overhauled, so he can inspect it/sign it off, when he gets the time.  Can anyone offer any advice?

Edited by ZamF16
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Zam,

Check the pic in Lance’s post...

note the compass and a center line that extends back to a screw...

There looks to be a couple of things that might be holding the compass in place.  That drawing has to have them all...

Best regards,

-a-

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On my bravo, to remove the compass there are just two vertical screws (brass on mine), one either side it, to remove. Take those fully out, carefully withdraw the moulding with the mounted compass, then disconnect the instrument lighting wire at the small connector. You need to do this first when removing the glareshield.

The IPC shows two installations - one up to an including s/n 184 (as posted by Lance above), and one for subsequent where the attaching screws are labelled 16A

I've never tried to remove the compass from the moulding, but guess if you look in the back of it then it will be fairly obvious

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