Binnacle compass

[tckearney]

Binnacle compass .   B42   2000 model
Is my steering compass supposed to have a bubble or liquid in it.  It does not appear to have any.  Can it be filled, if so with what and how.  Thanks

[geoff]

If it is the Suunto original yes it should be liquid filled [no bubbles]. They all seem to rot the bellows below the bowl. The bellows can be removed with some difficulty and replaced with the silicon top of an ebay picnic mug. I did mine 5years ago still good. Geoff

[geoff]

Should have added liquid is liquid parafin [laxative in france ] or unscented baby oil. Geoff

[tckearney]

should it be filled to the top or just above the compass disc

[Laysula]

I had mine refilled here.
https://www.bpsc-marine.co.uk/

[geoff]

It should be totally full , the last bit is tricky. The picnic cups are about £3 on ebay, only the top is used. Getting the old base off needs a bit of brute force/ helped by many screwdrivers used as wedges

[Yngmar]

We followed Geoff's advice with the silicone cup (lid actually) and filled our Suunto with Johnson's baby oil. Half a year later, this seems to have worked apart from having a small bubble at the top, as there must've been some air trapped under the disc. Should be sorted with a top-up.

A hairdryer will help with getting the very tight bottom off. Matches all around for the small plastic clips at the top of the globe.

[tckearney]

Thanks guys all done.  How on earth does that become empty?

[Yngmar]

As Geoff said, the bellows (expansion chamber) on the bottom rots out. It appears to be made from a material not quite compatible with the original Suunto oil and is attacked by the oil over time. Eventually it cracks and the oil seeps out.

Perhaps this embarrassment is why Suunto stopped making compasses?