Maintenance Questions

Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P have
to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?


Thanks...

"C. Massey" wrote

What is the fluid?

In sailboats, it is mineral spirits. I don't know about airplanes, cause I
don't think I am allowed to mess with the sacred compass! ;-))

Kerosene. If the compass is an Airpath, which seems to be the most
common, you can buy a rebuild kit that includes new seals and fluid.

I will let the armchair lawyers hereabouts comment on the legalities.

David Johnson

Para 43.3, (g) Authorized persons, preventive maintenance, rated pilot

Appendix A to Part 43 of the Fed Air Regs, paragraph C, Preventive Maint

Do not see a compass as an approved item..
do see.. "replacing hoses other than hydraulic"

Normally there is more to a compass than "adding fluid", if it needs
fluild.. there is a leak.. need to rebuild it.
Then need to "swing the compass" installed in the glider with electrics on.

BT


"C. Massey" wrote in message
et...
Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P
have to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?


Thanks...

On Jun 24, 8:34 pm, "C. Massey" wrote:
Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P have
to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?

Thanks...

I know I can't legally do either of these on my airplane (my A&P can't
even change the tube, that an avionics job). Is this glider FAA
certified?

-Robert

BT wrote:


Then need to "swing the compass" installed in the glider with electrics on.


Hmm... the only glider I ever flew in didn't have anything resembling
electricity.

acid free white kerosene
fill compass/ get A&P to replace tubing
==========================================
"C. Massey" wrote in message
et...
Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P
have to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?


Thanks...

On Jun 24, 8:34 pm, "C. Massey" wrote:
Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P have
to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?

Thanks...

BTW: After making the mistake once, I would never again "add fluid" to
a compass and replace the seals. After buying a total of 4 kits and
paying almost 5 hours in labor my compass no longer leaks again. For
about 1/2 that price I could have just bought a new compass. It seems
as though the body of the compass warps over the years and getting a
solid seal becomes very, very difficult.

-Robert

On Jun 25, 6:32 am, Ron Natalie wrote:

Hmm... the only glider I ever flew in didn't have anything resembling
electricity.

You might be surprised at the sophistication of a modern glider (not
some stone age beat up trainer). My 20 year old LS6 has two
independent GPSs, moving map, glide computer, electric varios with
audio, radio, ELT, dual redundant separate battery systems, etc.

Many of my friends have transponders and/or TPAS's in theirs.

Nice to have on those long XC flights.

Kirk
66

My understanding is that your cousin cannot legally work on his certified
airplane's compass, nor can an AI or A&P. My understanding is that an FAA
approved instrument repair station is needed.

At least this is what a buddy of mine (an AI) told me one day when he was
standing over his workbench repairing a compass from another guy's *boat*.
;-)

Aircraft Spruce sells both the correct fluid for a compass and the seals for
the compass. To top off the fluid, you can simply pull the little plug (or
is it a screw ? - can't remember) at the top of the compass and use a
syringe or pipette to add fluid. I had to do that to my *boat's* compass a
few years ago. Apparently compasses are vented and the fluid can evaporate
over time.

KB


"C. Massey" wrote in message
et...
Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P
have to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?


Thanks...