I have a Sunnto KB20 Azimuth Compass, and a Silva Polaris Compass, and they both have developed air bubbles in them. The bubbles don't appear to affect the performance of the compasses, but they drive me crazy.
Is there a simple way to remove these bubbles without destroying these compasses? I keep them in my truck, in soft padded compass cases, in a plastic drawer unit behind the drivers seat. My higher end Sunnto tandem compass/clinometer, has not developed a bubble.
My preliminary research has suggested slowly heating the capsules in warm water to warm the liquid in the capsule. I though I would ask my fellow professionals what you guys have done.
Thanks,
Jimmy
I am interested to hear any remedy also. I have several Suuntos with bubbles. I have just always sent them off for repair.
Bruce
Yea, the model I have is supposedly "not repairable". It is a good compass, and it has served me well. I am not ready to put it into the compass graveyard just yet.
Jimmy,
I see that now. I always get the KB14/360R. I've never tried the KB20.
You could put them in front of your stereo and play Don Ho's "Tiny Bubbles", over and over until the compass bubbles are blown out? +o(
This has been discussed here in Tasmania a couple of times on a Bushwalking forum
Here's a couple of links if you want to read. Not really any definite answers though.
Bubles in compass - 1
Bubbles in compass - 2
That directed to here at Silva
A bubble in a compass is inevitable due to shifts in barometric pressure. Of small concern to me.
Another concern of more importance that happened to me. Had a Silva Ranger for many years. The needle just flat lost it's magnetism. Just went random, no repeatability at all. Still scratching my head on that one.
From the Suunto web site about Marine Compasses:
http://www.suunto.com/us/en/support/faqs/Marine-Compasses
Forestry Suppliers repairs the more expensive Suunto compassess:
http://www.suunto.com/us/en/support/faqs/Marine-Compasses
(Disclaimer I have no connection to Forestry Suppliers)
Suunto compasses in metal housings usually or did have a serial number on them. This is a code for the manufacturing date. If a bubble appears shortly after purchase, maybe it's a warranty issue.
From the Silva FAQ web site:
http://www.silvacompass.com/detail.aspx?id=76
Scroll down to see what Brunton uses in their liquid filled compasses:
http://www.bruntonoutdoor.com/support.php?category=Compass
My 10+ year old Silva Ranger has a small bubble in it. It doesn't seem to affect accuracy. I used it recently to get a preliminary bearing on a 300' traverse leg in the middle of a 3900 LF traverse and the result is the whole traverse is within a few minutes of the record astronomic bearing from 1962 (monuments at either end). That surprised me how good it was.
My Suuntos all seem to gradually turn blue, making them harder to read over the years. I heard it a microbial thing?