Need to refill compass

[garbageguy]

My 2-3 year-old Ritchie compass has lost all its liquid. It looks like the green plastic piece with the black diaphragm came unglued from the green plastic piece in the compass (sorry, photo not great). Should I just glue the green plastic piece with the diaphragm back onto the green plastic piece in the unit (with superglue?) and fill it back up with mineral spirits? All input appreciated.

 

[fhhuber]

I'd need better pictures, but I suspect the green rim on the black part is actually part of the other green part and broken off, with the black center being the original plug.

If that is correct:

That would be nearly impossible to repair successfully. It seems to be a break due to shrinkage of the green plastic due to age. Any repair would just lead to fractures in other places in the green plastic.

 

[garbageguy]

I can get a better picture tonight, but it looks like those green plastic pieces were separate, and joined (somehow) in the past. Nothing looks broken.

Thanks for the input, I'll post a better picture later on.

Any idea what kind of plastic it is?

 

[fhhuber]

Too many types of plastic out there to take a guess....

 

[spoilsofwar]

I would contact Ritchie before you do anything... They claim most of their modern compasses are 100% repairable and they have their own repair department. They might just fix it for free.

Also they use a new kind of fluid since 2001 ("Isopar L") that supposedly has some beneficial properties over mineral spirits.
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/care-maintenance/service/frequently-asked-questions/

 

[alldodge]

Compass cost between 50 to 200. One of mine lost all fluid but I'm on inland waters, so no need for it. They have a 30 day warranty, so maybe just forget about it or put something else there, unless your in the ocean or great lakes

 

[JimS123]

Rictchie isn't a cheapo company. They make quality products. After only 2 years they should replace it for free.

I had a similar problem with a quality riflescope that was 10 years old. The company took my word on it and had a brand new one in the mail to me the same day. They didn't even require me to send the old one back.

Call them and I bet they will make good on it.

 

[garbageguy]

Thanks for all the input. I'm on the Upper Niagara River/Lake Erie, so I'd like to have a functional compass. I will call Ritchie before trying to re-seal, re-fill it.

But, just in case, h ere's a close-up pic showing the green plastic piece that holds the black diaphragm (underneath it). It also shows what I think is the fill port - anyone know if it is, and what you need to fill through it? (if that's even possible).

 

[spoilsofwar]

Compass cost between 50 to 200. One of mine lost all fluid but I'm on inland waters, so no need for it. They have a 30 day warranty, so maybe just forget about it or put something else there, unless your in the ocean or great lakes

Where did you see a 30 day warranty?

Every product I saw on the Ritchie website listed a 5 year warranty.

 

[alldodge]

Woops that's a 30 return/replace, defects are 5 yr

 

[dingbat]

I rebuilt my Richite Navigator last Spring. Purchased a rebuild kit from Vikingcompass.com The Kit included new diaphragm and several o- rings for various locations in the compass. Refilled with mineral oil and good to go.

The trick is refilling it. Filled it with large syringes I use for gluing rod butts. It takes some doing to get most the air out. Then put it in the freezer for a while. Get it good and cold then add more fluid. Once back to room temp, you'll have no air in it at all.

Oh, whatever you do don't mess with the calibration adjustments in the base. Learned the hard way....