If the compass needle does not re-orient after seperating as has been suggested, perhaps it has been in too close proximity to a strong magnet? I had changed the polarity of my old scout compass needle in my youth with a magnet. It can be re-oriented back to original by re-magnetizing the needle with a magnet. I don't recall which end I had to "trap" with the magnet to make it point correctly, but a little trial and error will make it right. You might want to look at your storage if the needle was truely magnetized incorrectly.