[C320-list] Steering compass : Problem!

[Chris Burti]

The substance is mineral oil, is not corrosive and
will clean up with detergent. There was a discussion
about removing the compass this sumer that you can now
search in the list archive.

--- James Harkness <james.harkness at which.net> wrote:

> On my previous trip to the boat - around a month ago
> - I was irritated 
> to find a bubble of air had appeared in our main
> steering compass but 
> did nothing about it. Mainly because I had no idea
> how to tackle this 
> one and have always thought compasses are not for
> DIY lists and need a 
> specialist.
> This time when I arrived at the boat (last week)  I
> was a whole lot more 
> irritated when I discovered that ALL the damping
> fluid in the compass 
> dome had leaked out. Some of had oozed from the
> rubber seal on the 
> compass assembly and down the outside of the
> pedestal and the remainder 
> found a passage down inside the pedestal over the
> steering gear and into 
> its fibreglass cover in the aft cabin where it was
> pooled. I didn't 
> discover this bit until after some vigorous sailing
> it started leaking 
> out of the cover and onto the bedding - I promise
> you its not nice stuff 
> to sleep with!!
> 
> I've now got two problems:
> 1. How do I get the compass off so I can take it to
> my local compass 
> repairer ? At the moment I can't find a way into the
> assembly at all and 
> I'm very reluctant to employ much force without
> understanding  how it 
> all fits together. Couldn't find much in the Owner's
> Manual
> 2. What is the liquid inside these instruments and
> (more importantly) is 
> it corrosive, toxic or otherwise harmful to people
> (or my boat's 
> machinery) ?
> 
> Any thought or info gratefully received
> 
> Jim Harkness
> Simia  #303  (1996)
> 
> 
> 


Chris Burti
"Commitment"
Catalina 320, #867, 
Farmville, NC

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