PZL compass question

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

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 |

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

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

-Tom

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

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

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

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

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/...es_repair.html
They have the correct fluid but only gaskets sets for Airpass
compasses.

Uli Neumann

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