Suunto binnacle compass

[Clivert]

How do I remove the Suunto compass from the binnacle on my 2001 Bav 34 ?
It is leaking

[Yngmar]

The outer black plastic bezel just pops off with a bit of prying and then you'll see the screws holding it down in the red plastic. On ours you also have to disconnect the compass light and pull up the wire to remove it entirely.

[Clivert]

Thanks Yngmar.
I thought it might break when I looked at doing that.
Need to sort it before heading to Cherbourg next week.
Clive

[Stevie H]

On my Bavaria 36 2000 there is a 'slot' where you insert a screwdriver to push back a tab on the compass frame itself to release the black ring and as Yngmar has said, the screws are then exposed.

[Clivert]

Stevie,
I pushed and pushed but not moving.
Will be trying again in next couple of days
C

[Ricd]

how are you going to sort it/ will you refill?

[geoff]

I had this problem a couple of years ago, after taking out the compass as described I separated the top and base [not easy lots of small screwdrivers/wedges] .Next go to ebay and buy a folding picnic cup ,mine was pink. Remove the leaking bellows which is easy, replace with pink cup. replace top onto bottom ,a tight squeeze. Refill with liquid paraffin , available as a laxative in france. The refill is best done with a syringe. Has now lasted 2 years with no sign of a leak. Geoff

[Clivert]

I found it easier to crack the base to get it off.
Still a pretty tight fit after and when refitted.
Fill the compass with oil through the holes in the bottom of the sphere before putting the membrane back on.
Final topup can be via small screw hole with a syringe.

[Clivert]

Geoff ,
Nwhich site did you use for your cup.
I got one but too small.
Difficult to find dims to fit.
Cheers
Clive

[geoff]

Hi Clive , It came from     Ipandorabox     iten no  222424599649. Geoff

[Yngmar]

Topic resurrection. Our Suunto also has a rotten membrane (it's crumbling to pieces, no fixing that) and all the liquid fell out (interestingly, most seems to have evaporated, leaving the engine room smelling pleasantly of eucalyptus).

Any hint as to where to find the matching silicone cup? The eBay link above no longer works. Thanks

[The Other Woman]

Hi
Try this i did it 4 years ago and still good.

Ebay item number:193113964909


Just use the top save the cup, fill with Johnson's baby oil using a syringe. The hard bit was getting the bottom off but if you put it in boiling water and get mad at it then you will prise it off easy really it's just that last little bubble that takes a bit of time.
Compass moves nice.

Good luck
Mick

[Yngmar]

Superb, thanks! Will the silicone cup lid fit and seal with the bottom of the compass pushed back on?

I did get the bottom off, although not without stabbing myself in the hand. Blood sacrifice always seems to do the trick around boats 

Ordering a cup and some Johnson's baby oil.

[The Other Woman]

Hi,
Yes cup lid fits fine, think I bought 2 bottles of Johnson's full repair cost me £3:50. You will manage it no problem and you can always have a bath with the remainder helps with the sore hand.

Mick

[ejessen]

I have a bubble in my Suunto compass as well...

Did any of you take a few pictures of the steps involved in removing and filling the compass?

-- Erik

[Yngmar]

I can snap some pictures when the silicone cup arrives from China

[nightowle]

Thanks, Yngmar.  I'd like to see photos of this process, as well.  Mine has a reasonable size bubble, but it has been stable for almost 3 years.  If it isn't too much trouble, I'll attempt the fix.

[ejessen]

Hi Yngmar - were you able to take a few picture?

[Yngmar]

Yep. I'll put it on the blog eventually! https://sdfjkl.org

[sy_Anniina]

EDIT: This method does not work!

The mounting surface is slightly conical and the jubilee clip &friction will not keep the cup on place. Repair was successful for only < 24hrs.

--old message--

Some photos of the same problem, but a bit different solution as I did not manage to buy a cup that would fit between the original body and retaining plastic cup-part.

Clearly in my case the original bellows was broken - and now replaced with a silicone cup hold by a stainless non-magnetic jubilee clip.

You can fill more than half of the volume before mounting the new bellows with syringe only (without needle = faster) and only the remaining volume needs a syringe with needle throuh the screw-hole on the side.

Remains to be seen how my bellows-hack will hold

BR,

Tommi
s/y Anniina

[Salty]

Many thanks Tommi for all the pictures. My compass at present is ok, but is made by Plastimo, don't know if it was original or not as the boat (B36/2002) was purchased second hand in 2010. Hopefully  it will be a fairly similar arrangement if I should have to make a repair at some time in the future.

[sy_Anniina]

Hopefully my experience benefits someone else: Don't try the following method:

- Since the bellows mounting surface is slightly conical (see my previous post) I decided to try something different
- filed the edge down a bit to give better grip for silicone cup / jubilee clip
- see photos for modification dimension

--> body wall thickness was reduced so much the body was split in half when I slightly tightened the jubilee clip... My next compass is most likely Silva 125FTC

BR,

Tommi
s/y Anniina

[sy_Anniina]

Extending the topic now to replacing the Suunto binnacle compass - rather than repairing. The previous post tells why...

The Suunto compass mounting screws are 135mm apart, and most 100mm compassess today out there only have 125mm outer diameter. During quite extensive search, I found only 3 options for compass that both cover the exiting holes and fits on standard binnacle:

- Plastimo Olympic 115 - which was not available locally
- Ritchie Helmsman wiht adapter plate - the plate was not available locally & I did not want to use time to fabricate one
- Silva 125 FTC - size fits bang on the binnacle, have to enlarge mounting hole & drill new mounting screws.

I selected the Silva, and luckily a shop in my town seemed to have the lowest price for this compass within EU.

Only downside was that the sticker mounting template was likely not printed in correct scale, had to enlarge the hole & drill mounting screws twice (second photo)

Attached a couple of photos from installation