So I took my suunto MB6 to ski the first time, for clinometer really since I wear a suunto core. It developed bubble in subzero temp, and I thought okay, liquid contract so it's unavoidable. But now it's back to room temperature, and the bubble is still there.

So what's the deal here, was the capsul not sealed and air got in? The bubble isn't large enough to affect needle. Is there anything to worry about or is it normal?

If the bubble doesn't interfere with the needle it isn't an issue. There are various claims that bubbles can be removed with some combination of agitation and some sort of thermal cycling. The one I've seen most often involves heating, followed by very slow cooling.

When that fails you learn to appreciate the bubble is a flaw that makes it special.

You should contact Suunto. Not so much to complain, but let them know as they are always looking for product feedback where you can detail the conditions that lead to the bubble.

A hiker friend of mine had a bubble form in her compass and after contacting Suunto, they sent her a replacement compass that was a couple of steps up from her model. Suunto also provided a return courier packing slip so she could send in her original compass.

Even if I were to get rid of it, what's to guarantee it won't be back the next time I take it to ski though, so I guess I'll leave it alone and think of it as a bubble level and second clinometer indicator...

Oh and it wasn't even that cold, just -10°C or so.

But now I'm afraid to take my MC-2G into subzero, it's bubble free at the moment.

Uh oh, this is not good. I looked it over a bit more, there are minute amount of the damping fluid leaked outside capsule, I can see it because it's stuck between the transparent plastic and outer black shell.

So as far as I figure, the liquid contracted in cold, the seal wasn't able to hold the vacuum, and allowed air to leak in. When the liquid expanded again at room temperature, some of the fluid was expelled instead of air.

I wonder if this will happen again and again, and more air gets in, more liquid leaks out.

Replace it. A small bubble is one thing, leaking oil another. And yes, once they leak they tend to keep leaking. Bummer. On the up side you get a new one.

Lol, this is a new one, I bought it two days ago.

I'm going ski again tomorrow, so I'll take it and see what happens.

My guess would be altitude, not cold, is what caused the bubble to occur. My Brunton developes a bubble when I hike at altitude that dissappears when I get back home (lower elevation). This is Brunton's pricey 8099 Eclipse model.

No more expensive fluid filled compasses for me. My next purchase wil be one of the US military Cammenga's. I wasn't sure if I would be able to use this type of compass with my older eyes and bifocals, so I bought a pair of cheap trainer/imitations from SportsmansGuide. They don't sell these anymore, but it was something like "two for $9.99" back when they carried them. These trainers allowed me to test out how the lensatic compass design would work for me before spending the money on a Cammenga (it works just fine - no problem with old eyes and bifocals).

I see no need for the tritium model, so I plan to get the less expensive phosphorescent model:

http://store.cammenga.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=23

A fellow at work sent in a bunch of compasses for warranty repair; the rule was that if the bubble was larger than 1cm dia. then that would effect the compass. I sent in 4 compasses, one had a 1 cm bubble and the others had lost up to 1/2 the fluid in the capsule.

Suunto replaced the one with the smaller bubble with an MC-2, but the other models had been discontinued at least 10 years ago and were unrepairable due to a lack of replacement parts. Mike

+1 on the Cammenga military compass.It is a dry cell compass and air bubbles is one of the reasons the military uses them. They go from high altitude parachute drops to sea level landings with no ill affects.
I live in a neighboring county where the Cammenga company is located.I even applied for work there.Cammenga is a small company that has great customer service.The owner of the company personally dealt with me when I applied.Regretably they were not hiring.
We talked for an hour on compasses and my use of them in them in the military.I bought one years before and could tell it would be a good company to work for.They make a solid product(nearly bombproof)that has been passed on from father's to son's.
So no affiliation with them(but would like to have)and just a happy customer...

BOATMAN
John

As I suggested and posted above, contact Suunto...especially due to the compass being brand new.

It's the weekend so they won't answer till next week anyway, so I'll wait till then. I'm leaving again in a few hours, and I'll bring it with me.

As I remember it a lot of the early all-plastic compasses suffered from capsules that would leak, sometimes come completely unstuck, with heat, cold, normal levels of abuse. It took a few tries but Silva came out ahead, in part, because they solved the problem and manufactured capsules that were very near indestructible.

Sounds like the manufacturer has suffered a setback in their engineering and quality control.

My silva developed a huge bubble, don't think it impacted performance, but didn't want it. Called them, got an RMA, and they gave me a brand new one.

Every time one of my compasses has developed a bubble the manufacturer has replaced it without any hesitance.

This is weird. After the bubble appeared I left it in my room, and in the course of 24 hours, the bubble got smaller and eventually disappeared. I took it skiing again, and the bubble re-appeared, and for the past 24 hours it's again getting smaller (but haven't disappeared yet).

There doesn't seem to be a service center in Canada, I'll have to call them and see how things work.

Thought bubbles at altitude were a normal phenom.

Just some update, hopefully final. The bubble seems to have stabilized at 3 mm or so, and no longer getting bigger. If it stays this way I won't bother with replacing and going to keep it this way, it even works sort as a bubble level and a 2nd clinometer lol.



It's not at altitude, the bubble persists at near sea level (home).

Most of my compasses, including my relatively high end Silva Ranger eventually develop a small bubble. If I perceived it to be a problem, I'd replace/repair/return the compass, but usually a small one is not big deal.

Leaking fluid is another matter, and I'd probably return that one (after you get back from you outing).

H

i thought the bubble was to help you
keep the compass level

lol. Some compasses do have that, but if you're compass isn't supposed to have a bubble, then having one is no advantage.

HJ

"...i thought the bubble was to help you
keep the compass level..."

Hi CANOEDOGS,

Nope, a compass is just a handy little thing to transport your bubble in !

Sorry, my friend. I couldn't resist.

Pharaoh.

How else can you keep the bubble from bursting?