PZL compass question

[[email protected]]

When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that
ther was no fluid in the unit. Looks like a nice little so I thought
I'd refill it an mount it. The problem is that I dodn't know what
type of fluid to use. The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin"
but don't have a clue where to find any of that stuff. Any ideas?
Thanks

Mike Ziaskas, San Diego, CA

[Martin Gregorie[_4_]]

On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:15:38 -0700, mzsoar wrote:

> When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
> that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that ther
> was no fluid in the unit. Looks like a nice little so I thought I'd
> refill it an mount it. The problem is that I dodn't know what type of
> fluid to use. The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin" but don't
> have a clue where to find any of that stuff. Any ideas? Thanks
>
I just looked up Ligroin in a chemical engineering dictionary. It seems
to be about as non-specific a term as you can find. It can mean anything
from petroleum ether to kerosene as well as everything in between.

Airpath compass fluid is similar. Its a C10-C13 alkane, which sounds to
me remarkably like good quality kerosene or paraffin, so I'd suggest you
use that. Looked and smelt like paraffin too, when we refilled my Ludolph
compass with it last winter.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

[sisu1a]

The Airpath fluid should do nicely, but you really should get a gasket
kit for it because if it had good gasket(s) it would probably not be
empty and if it were just drained and left empty for no reason, the
seal is probably beat by now anyhow. I have not opened up a PZL
compass, so I can't offer any insight to fabricating a gasket if one
can't be procured. Just a thought...

-Paul

On Aug 22, 2:15 pm, wrote:
> When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
> that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that
> ther was no fluid in the unit. Looks like a nice little so I thought
> I'd refill it an mount it. The problem is that I dodn't know what
> type of fluid to use. The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin"
> but don't have a clue where to find any of that stuff. Any ideas?
> Thanks
>
> Mike Ziaskas, San Diego, CA

[5Z]

Also, be sure to leave a pretty big air bubble inside. Without that
it WILL blow the gasket at altitude.

-Tom

[Darryl Ramm]

On Aug 22, 4:28*pm, 5Z > wrote:
> Also, be sure to leave a pretty big air bubble inside. *Without that
> it WILL blow the gasket at altitude.
>
> -Tom

It might blow a gasket if filled all the way due to hot temperatures
and no expansion space. If it was altitude related leaving a larger
air bubble would make problems due to pressure differential at
altitude worse not better. Right?

Darryl

[ZZ]

Prior to a contest, my compass puked all of its fluid. I had a new
gasket kit but no white kerosene, the fluid recommended by the compass
manufacturer. So I filled it with Bar-B-Q lighter fluid. (The can said
it was kerosene). It was a bit red in color but lasted about 10 years. I
eventually replaced the compass with a new one.

Paul
ZZ


wrote:
> When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
> that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that
> ther was no fluid in the unit. Looks like a nice little so I thought
> I'd refill it an mount it. The problem is that I dodn't know what
> type of fluid to use. The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin"
> but don't have a clue where to find any of that stuff. Any ideas?
> Thanks
>
> Mike Ziaskas, San Diego, CA

[5Z]

On Aug 22, 7:10*pm, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
> It might blow a gasket if filled all the way due to hot temperatures
> and no expansion space. If it was altitude related leaving a larger
> air bubble would make problems due to pressure differential at
> altitude worse not better. Right?

That makes sense, but since I've refilled mine, leaving the air bubble
in there, it hasn't leaked. Go figure.


-Tom

[Nyal Williams[_2_]]

Early on, compasses were filled with alcohol and they were referred to as
"spirit" compasses -- a common descriptor for volatile substances.
This, together with the word "spirits" used for distilled liquor, led to
using the phrase "whiskey compass." (My guess is as good as yours.)
;-)

At 01:28 23 August 2008, ZZ wrote:
>Prior to a contest, my compass puked all of its fluid. I had a new
>gasket kit but no white kerosene, the fluid recommended by the compass
>manufacturer. So I filled it with Bar-B-Q lighter fluid. (The can said
>it was kerosene). It was a bit red in color but lasted about 10 years. I

>eventually replaced the compass with a new one.
>
>Paul
>ZZ
>
>
wrote:
>> When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
>> that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that
>> ther was no fluid in the unit. Looks like a nice little so I thought
>> I'd refill it an mount it. The problem is that I dodn't know what
>> type of fluid to use. The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin"
>> but don't have a clue where to find any of that stuff. Any ideas?
>> Thanks
>>
>> Mike Ziaskas, San Diego, CA
>

[GM]

On Aug 22, 5:15*pm, wrote:
> When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
> that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that
> ther was no fluid in the unit. *Looks like a nice little so I thought
> I'd refill it an mount it. *The problem is that I dodn't know what
> type of fluid to use. *The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin"
> but don't have a clue where to find any of that stuff. *Any ideas?
> Thanks
>
> Mike Ziaskas, San Diego, CA


Mike,

check the online catalog of Aircraft Spruce:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/in/compasses_repair.html
They have the correct fluid but only gaskets sets for Airpass
compasses.

Uli Neumann

[Darryl Ramm]

On Aug 22, 7:07*pm, 5Z > wrote:
> On Aug 22, 7:10*pm, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
>
> > It might blow a gasket if filled all the way due to hot temperatures
> > and no expansion space. If it was altitude related leaving a larger
> > air bubble would make problems due to pressure differential at
> > altitude worse not better. Right?
>
> That makes sense, but since I've refilled mine, leaving the air bubble
> in there, it hasn't leaked. *Go figure.
>
> -Tom

Tom, I was not disagreeing with your instructions, just the reasons
you gave for doing so. My understanding is the air bubble is critical
for fluid thermal expansion on the PZL since unlike some compasses
they have no form of pressure relief diaphragm etc.

Darryl

[Glider Kate]

I see 5Z keft his bubble in!

If the compass gets a big bubble inside can you replace the big bubble
with a little one? If so where do you buy them and are they calibrated for
size and expansion rates?

Are they the same bubbles you get in spirit levels?

K


Ok wher do you buy the bubbles?
Are they calibrated in any way?arted At 02:44 23 August 2008, Darryl Ramm
wrote:
>On Aug 22, 7:07=A0pm, 5Z wrote:
>> On Aug 22, 7:10=A0pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
>>
>> > It might blow a gasket if filled all the way due to hot temperatures
>> > and no expansion space. If it was altitude related leaving a larger
>> > air bubble would make problems due to pressure differential at
>> > altitude worse not better. Right?
>>
>> That makes sense, but since I've refilled mine, leaving the air
bubble
>> in there, it hasn't leaked. =A0Go figure.
>>
>> -Tom
>
>Tom, I was not disagreeing with your instructions, just the reasons
>you gave for doing so. My understanding is the air bubble is critical
>for fluid thermal expansion on the PZL since unlike some compasses
>they have no form of pressure relief diaphragm etc.
>
>Darryl
>
>
>

[Ian]

On 23 Aug, 03:09, Nyal Williams > wrote:
> Early on, compasses were filled with alcohol and they were referred to as
> "spirit" compasses -- a common descriptor for volatile substances.
> This, together with the word "spirits" used for distilled liquor, led to
> using the phrase "whiskey compass." (My guess is as good as yours.)

My handbearing compass for sailing - a Sestrel - is filled with gin!

Ian

[Don Johnstone[_3_]]

Kate, how lucky can you be. I can supply bubbles of all sizes.
I can also supply:
Think bubbles - Very useful when you are in trouble
Holes - Metric and imperial
Holes, water filled - Useful if you are unwell
Gaps - Metric and imperial, magneto and spark
Rests - for when you feel tired
Ways and plots - For when you loose yours
Bullsh1t - I have a surplus at the moment
Lights - For dim buggers
I am also developing a line in flatulence, varying fragrances - useful
when you meet people you don't like.
I am sorry I am right out of sense, common or otherwise and unlikely to
have new stock in the forseeable future.

Please send £10 sterling ($40) for a full catalogue.



At 08:24 23 August 2008, Glider Kate wrote:
>I see 5Z keft his bubble in!
>
>If the compass gets a big bubble inside can you replace the big bubble
>with a little one? If so where do you buy them and are they calibrated
for
>size and expansion rates?
>
>Are they the same bubbles you get in spirit levels?
>
>K
>
>
>Ok wher do you buy the bubbles?
>Are they calibrated in any way?arted At 02:44 23 August 2008, Darryl
Ramm
>wrote:
>>On Aug 22, 7:07=A0pm, 5Z wrote:
>>> On Aug 22, 7:10=A0pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
>>>
>>> > It might blow a gasket if filled all the way due to hot
temperatures
>>> > and no expansion space. If it was altitude related leaving a larger
>>> > air bubble would make problems due to pressure differential at
>>> > altitude worse not better. Right?
>>>
>>> That makes sense, but since I've refilled mine, leaving the air
>bubble
>>> in there, it hasn't leaked. =A0Go figure.
>>>
>>> -Tom
>>
>>Tom, I was not disagreeing with your instructions, just the reasons
>>you gave for doing so. My understanding is the air bubble is critical
>>for fluid thermal expansion on the PZL since unlike some compasses
>>they have no form of pressure relief diaphragm etc.
>>
>>Darryl
>>
>>
>>
>

[Don Johnstone[_3_]]

Kate, how lucky can you be. I can supply bubbles of all sizes.
I can also supply:
Think bubbles - Very useful when you are in trouble
Holes - Metric and imperial
Holes, water filled - Useful if you are unwell
Gaps - Metric and imperial, magneto and spark
Rests - for when you feel tired
Ways and plots - For when you loose yours
Bullsh1t - I have a surplus at the moment
Lights - For dim buggers
I am also developing a line in flatulence, varying fragrances - useful
when you meet people you don't like.
I am sorry I am right out of sense, common or otherwise and unlikely to
have new stock in the forseeable future.

Please send £10 sterling ($40) for a full catalogue.



At 08:24 23 August 2008, Glider Kate wrote:
>I see 5Z keft his bubble in!
>
>If the compass gets a big bubble inside can you replace the big bubble
>with a little one? If so where do you buy them and are they calibrated
for
>size and expansion rates?
>
>Are they the same bubbles you get in spirit levels?
>
>K
>
>
>Ok wher do you buy the bubbles?
>Are they calibrated in any way?arted At 02:44 23 August 2008, Darryl
Ramm
>wrote:
>>On Aug 22, 7:07=A0pm, 5Z wrote:
>>> On Aug 22, 7:10=A0pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
>>>
>>> > It might blow a gasket if filled all the way due to hot
temperatures
>>> > and no expansion space. If it was altitude related leaving a larger
>>> > air bubble would make problems due to pressure differential at
>>> > altitude worse not better. Right?
>>>
>>> That makes sense, but since I've refilled mine, leaving the air
>bubble
>>> in there, it hasn't leaked. =A0Go figure.
>>>
>>> -Tom
>>
>>Tom, I was not disagreeing with your instructions, just the reasons
>>you gave for doing so. My understanding is the air bubble is critical
>>for fluid thermal expansion on the PZL since unlike some compasses
>>they have no form of pressure relief diaphragm etc.
>>
>>Darryl
>>
>>
>>
>

[DRN]

On Aug 22, 5:15 pm, wrote:
> When I bought my glider a year ago there was a PZL Warszawa ll compass
> that came with it but was not installed. Looking at it I found that
> ther was no fluid in the unit. Looks like a nice little so I thought
> I'd refill it an mount it. The problem is that I dodn't know what
> type of fluid to use. The PZL website states that it uses "ligroin"
> but don't have a clue where to find any of that stuff. Any ideas?
> Thanks
>
> Mike Ziaskas, San Diego, CA

Have a look at this earlier thread:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.aviation.soaring/browse_frm/thread/638b41c4878a7ab3/581b58a486d938f8?lnk=gst&q=pzl+compass+crack+leak#581b58a486d938f8

I had one of these that cracked (possibly from over-tightening
the mounting ring). I ground out the crack and epoxied it,
was careful not to overtighten and leave a bubble, and no
further problems.

Hope this helps,
Best Regards, Dave "YO electric"

PS: "YO electric" has an Airpath mounted in a recess
in the top of the instrument cover - easy to read and
none of these problems...