Piper L-4 Compass question

[marine air]

Can anyone tell me what type of fluid goes in the typical "whiskey compass" used in the WW II type compasses as found in the L-3 and L-4's ?

[Cvairwerks]

Have to look in the manual when I get home, but seem to remember it’s either kerosene or alcohol based.

Looked it while waiting for son doing and MRI..... Current fluid is MIL-C-5020A, which is a naphtha based solution. Aircraft Spruce has the civi version for a couple bucks for a pint. Takes a bit of work to refill one and not have a bubble.

[marine air]

Thanks CVairwerks. We have the airplane in almost perfect mechanical shape , down to a couple of nit picky items. My Cessna C-182 pilot friend is freaking out over his lack of skill with the whiskey compass. He’s assured me it needs fresh fluid!
It’s mostly full as works within 30 degrees, when turning. it’s 75 years old, aren’t they supposed to last 100 years?

[phil65]

We used kerosene.

Phil

[Cubs2jets]

The steel tube frame, front seat and stick are bad to get magnetized. Any and all will affect the functioning of the compass. You may need to try "degaussing" the frame and parts.

C2j

[Cvairwerks]

Thanks CVairwerks. We have the airplane in almost perfect mechanical shape , down to a couple of nit picky items. My Cessna C-182 pilot friend is freaking out over his lack of skill with the whiskey compass. He’s assured me it needs fresh fluid!
It’s mostly full as works within 30 degrees, when turning. it’s 75 years old, aren’t they supposed to last 100 years?

Have to laugh about the compass. When I did my long cross country for my license, I lost one com, both VOR radios, the ADF went intermittent and the compass had seal failure and lost most of the fluid. Worst part was having to navigate around Fort Hood that day, knowing they had all artillery ranges in use until sundown....