Parker_Woodruff Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 It's a perpetual plague for me on any airplane I own. Sitting at FL190 yesterday, the compass springs a leak. Any idea if the stock M20K compass is one that can be resealed or if I have to get a new one altogether? Also, I think this is the correct p/n, but maybe someone can verify before I go out to the plane today... C2400-L4VT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/airpath_compass4.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Rumor has it we had the same issue. A new diaphragm from Aircraft Spruce for the Airpath compass is rumored to have fixed it. Disclaimer: Supposedly its a job for an instrument repair shop. Its also just 5 screws. Tip: submerge the compass in the fluid and turn it every which way to get the last bubble out. Make sure the rear cover is straight. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/repairkit.php directions: www.eaa448.org/Downloads/EAA448May09.pdf info: http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3434 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 I'm wondering why it was only leaking up high...maybe a temps issue with the seal? Below about 6,000 no drips. I'm sure it'll only get worse, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Parker, ours did the same thing, it only leaked when flying. I supppose the differential pressure (compass is sealed) and the vibration aggravates it. Anyways, you can fix it for 20$. Odorless mineral spirits is rumored to be the same as the special compass fluid. Get the non-magnetic fluid, not the standard kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Quote: jetdriven Parker, ours did the same thing, it only leaked when flying. I supppose the differential pressure (compass is sealed) and the vibration aggravates it. Anyways, you can fix it for 20$. Odorless mineral spirits is rumored to be the same as the special compass fluid. Get the non-magnetic fluid, not the standard kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 I didnt think the OEM manufacturer of the compass who supplies repair parts had to be FAA-PMA, as their authority is granted as a manufacturer of the item. IE Mooney woldnt have to have a PMA stamp on a replacement cowl flap, only the correct Mooney part number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pleisse Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Maybe I'll fix it myself then keep it on the shelf for future use. Not enough time this week once I got the supplies and I need the plane for work by Friday or Saturday. Also haven't yet made any A&P friends here (yet) to inspect & sign off. to Gulf Coast Avionics we go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Quote: N4352H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 The compass arc on the aera 500 in the panel dock makes a great standby compass. Our plane a few years ago had a vertical card compass for about 5 years. I suspect vibration killed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlunseth Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Had the same problem when I got my plane. Installed a vertical card compass and have had no issues since. They are only about 2-3/10ths of an AMU, and pretty much foolproof. Which means that I can use one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSMooniac Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Another vertical card compass fan here... no issues in 5 years of ownership for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolter Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 With a conventional DG that has to be readjusted regularly, I found the vertical card compass much easier to check against quickly. As an emergency backup in case of vacuum or gyro failure, I the whiskey compass works acceptably. That said, I would replace it with a vertical card before I would repair it. In bouncy IMC conditions, the vertical card is much better than the vibrating ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantom Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 You need a pressure compensating whiskey compass when flying that high and that fast, Parker If you need a sign off, we'll get one for you, so no worries there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pleisse Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Quote: KSMooniac Another vertical card compass fan here... no issues in 5 years of ownership for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwilkins Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 A paper towell and rubber band can keep it from dripping on your glareshield, but it still smells. Before compass repairs required an instrument repair shop our old AP would put in a seal kit, refill, and then re-swing the compass in about an hour total time. The comment about submerging the compas in the fluid is exactly what he would do; he used White Kerosene (not gas station kero; Lowes and Home depot still sell White Kero by the gallon) and fill a coffee can. After installing the new seal kit he would submerge the whole compass and tap and jiggle it to get all the air bubbles out. Of course he can't do this anymore now that you need to be an instrument repair shop, so he was just showing us how it used to be done. Sort of like I used to show guys how they could repair the Cessna electric clocks themselves if they were no longer going to be used in an aircraft. Usually takes about ten minutes and can fix about half of the dead Cessna electric clocks. The other half are just paperweights. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrach Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Just call out to the compass fairy and your compass gets magically serviced. I became weary of dealing with my airpath and went the S.I.R.S. route... http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/sirs_compass2.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Sometimes those compasses fix themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piloto Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Quote: N4352H Exactly the same service history for me. 5 years...flawless. It's magnetic and it swings your UNOS just the same way. I almost believe that if everything craps out, it is almost a viable heading instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjsny78 Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 When I bought my plane in June I immediately tossed the wet compass for a vertical card. I have had nothing but problems with it since. It can’t go more than 2 weeks until it needs to be adjusted. It also has no cover on the bottom so there are exposed gears that I think could cause a problem. What a P.O.S!! I wish I had the old ugly wet compass back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwilkins Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Quote: M20F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donshapansky Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 My Avionics Shop absoltuely hates the open face vertical compass, he showed me a box of them all with a hammer put to them so no one would be tempted. He insisted on the SIRS compass and after 800 hrs and countless high altitude forays I have to say it is the most stable compass I have ever been around. Several pilots have also commented as they watched it perform in turbulence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjsny78 Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Quote: donshapansky My Avionics Shop absoltuely hates the open face vertical compass, he showed me a box of them all with a hammer put to them so no one would be tempted. He insisted on the SIRS compass and after 800 hrs and countless high altitude forays I have to say it is the most stable compass I have ever been around. Several pilots have also commented as they watched it perform in turbulence. I just looked up the compass you mentioned and WOW! I am really impressed with it. I have never heard of this compass before but it looks like a very high quality piece. I also like the fact that it is cheaper than this P.O.S. Vertical Card compass I have. I completely agree with your avionics shop, as I stated previously I downgraded compasses when I purchased my plane back in June because I did not like looking at a leaking ball in the middle of the windscreen. What a mistake. Your compass really does look great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/in/compasses_sirs.html Impressive..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.