CRT TVs - Discard when displays begin to fail?

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ovrphil

ovrphil

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 29, 2012
Messages
7,393
Location
N.Atlanta / Georgia
Last year, I found a couple neat-looking, portable CRT TV's. Both were working great, but recently the RCA-XL100 FMR-455W Dec. 1986 model suddenly started, when turned on, to have video problems. I made a video and uploaded it on youtube, which is a rolling hammerhead/hour-glass image. In my non-technical estimates, it looks like it could be a component in the video amplifier(cap, resister, both, etc.).

I'm curious in hearing about anyone else's adventures in CRT repairs and if anyone had a similar looking CRT like mine and decided to repair it. How did you find a reputable and honest repair service, if you didn't repair it yourself? Is it silly expensive? (I am guessing so). Or did you just forego repairs and find another CRT TV? I'm looking for another RCA XL100 like this one, but so far, no luck.

Thanks for any feedback and for looking. CRT's are passe', but I enjoy viewing them anyways.


ovrphil++5-1-2014-14-34-38.jpg
 
I don't think that's anything a re-cap (or whatever they call it on a solid state chassis, which I presume this is) wouldn't fix. 

 

It sort of reminds me of the old "Christmas tree effect" which I believe indicated trouble in the horizontal circuitry, but also seems to be displaying problems that appear to be vertical in nature. 

 

Regardless, I think the CRT may be fine, but the experts among us here will know for sure.
 
Ralph/Allen - I bought this book , having zero knowledge of TV repair, from the thrift. I don't want to jump in early for other replies, but from what I could meagerly interpret, I thought the same as you both.

Funny, video abnomalities from circuit malfunctions produce some incredibly interesting imagery across the tube. Not a Kaleidoscope, but still...kind of entertaining in distortion imagery....but not the desired output, grrr.

ovrphil++5-1-2014-17-23-34.jpg
 
I HAVE HAD LUCK REPAIRING THE OLD SETS.

My "Daily Driver" is a Magnavox 25" floor model Console
from 1981. Funny thing is, the Cabinet copied the exact
Provincial design of my '58 RCA New Vista set, in my
profile pic. Anyway, the Alot of the sets from the
'70s to the early 80's used Modular Board technology.
Meaning that printed circuit boards, would/could be
replaced as a complete piece, when a problem arose,
as opposed to replacing individual components on the
board itself. When boards can't be found, the individual
components, ie. capacitors, resistors, etc. can be replaced.

I have had luck finding Boards for my Magnavox, as well
as being fortunate enough to find a Repairman, who could
rebuild circuit boards, power supply, electronic control
panel, etc. The best way to find a Repairman is to look
for repair shops in Old Towns, mostly blue collar areas.
Most people there were used to repairing appliances and
TV's as opposed to the more weathly who just tossed, and
replaced. I found my repairman, that way, in Paterson, NJ.
This is an Old industrial town, and when I drove by his
shop, I knew he would know what to do for my sets.
I can fix some things myself, but let him take care of what
I cannot.

Also, similar to AW.org is AudioKarma.org . A forum for
audiophiles, for Audio Equipment of all Era's, as well as TV's.
This is a good place to meet others, get helpful information,
and possibly a referral for a Repair Shop, in your area.

I believe most everything has a Really good chance of being
repaired...Plus I'm relentless. It depends on your committment,
loyalty and drive for said TV/Item. Of course, one's personal
budget has to be factored in, as well. I'm a Die Hard Vintage Console
guy, as you can tell by my profile pic, and I have always
persevered to keep these sets going. I much rather watch
them, than a flat screen. Maybe my Astigmatism works well
with the curve of a CRT, as opposed to the "flat" of a Flat
Screen....LOL. My repairman loves working on my sets, and he
too prefers watching a CRT.

Your CRT appears to have solid, even color. I would definitely
say it's something on the horiz/vertical order, or depending
on chassis design, this may have a "video" modular board. It
all depends on how the circuits are split.

I hope some of this information is helpful. I feel it's the
first time I could actually contribute something here.

Good Luck and feel free to write me, and I can see if I
can help you some more.

Best regards,

Louis
 
Louis - you did help! I have thought about audio karma.org, as I'm a member there(Phil73). lI'll definitely pursue that path and see what I find..perhaps some of the people there can refer me to someone with integrity and not ridiculously expensive. You helped breathe more optimism into the questions I ask. It's good to meet you and I may be in touch, thank you.

Ralph - I wish I could find some resource that is visual, video preferably, that shows the resulting picture when some of the most common faults occur due to age or whatever, but not being in the tv repair biz, I don't know if a visual diagnostic guide would be perfect. I am just imagining the troubleshooting process the former CRT TV repairmen went through for their brand of tv, but there's a common source-resulting output image for different parts of the tv (input/output stages, etc....I'm illiterate but you get the idea). I was looking online to see if such a guide exists, where a video visual connects cause and suggested paths for correcting the problems.

Then I smile at the corrupted scrolling images..and laugh, but then ...wish for a video troubleshooting guide...decades too late, overall. lol.

fades to fog
 
I'm Really Glad I could Help :)

It's good to meet you too Phil. The guys
on AudioKarma seem to be a great group too.
They really helped me in finding some spare
parts for the older sets.

I used to record in a studio owned by a guy
who grew up fixing all kinds of TV's, but he
never clicked for me. He was always trying
to weasel the deal to his benefit. He told
me I would NEVER find a Flyback for my New Vista
set. I just wanted one as a spare, but that
made me more resigned, and relentless, in my
pursuit. I got an NOS Flyback for the New Vista....
AND.....and an NOS one for the 81 Magnavox Teletouch,
from a guy I met on AudioKarma. Always listen to
your "inner voice" when choosing a repair person,
for any type of service. It definitely will help
guard you from the inept & scheisters in the bunch.

Another thing I've found that really helps the Old
sets, is to use the New Electronic cooling fans,
for Modern Audio & Computer equipment, somewhere
in the cabinet of the Old set. These sets can
Never run COOL enough. Use the low voltage fans.
They move a good amount of air, and are very quiet.
You can use one to exhaust the heat, or add a second
to bring air in from the opposite side to cause
a draft over the components. I've noticed a marked
difference in operating temp, just by the touch of
my hand. This will definitely help in the longevity
of the Set and the individual components.

Keep At It! The Hunt & the Conquer is part of what
makes it all worth it and you'll feel good in the end.

Besides.....It's not only, or just, the destination, but
the Journey, as well, that matters / LOL.

Catch ya later.

Louis
 
Louis - do you have pics of your New Vista set somewhere online? I found a Youtube video of a 1969 model - is this similar to yours or does it have a different cabinet style? These are fun to own if you have space - my dad purchased a Zenith, walnut in 1964. It took up the entire width of our living room wall - lol!

I have one of those PC cooling fans, as a matter of fact. I'll heed your advice - haven't measured the temps inside the 1984 and '86 sets...but I"ll take your suggestion and try to apply.

I pm'd you - did you get the message? Thanks again, and I always try to enjoy the journey, whatever it might be.

Phil

 
I would suggest trying to repair it yourself. I know Louis suggested AudioKarma, but try their sister site VideoKarma.org. They are more into TVs there. Here CRT TVs are so cheap, unless it was something speical, I would just get a different one. Goodwill here sells all CRT TVs for $1.00, including console TVs(when they get them). I was even lucky enough to pick up an all tube TV from them.
 
Hi Justin -

I was kind of hoping you would chime in here. Goodwills are so over-shopped here, the only CRT TV's available are more contemporary. I haven't seen any old tv's that are old, come into Goodwill, as the number of people now shopping thrifts has really grown, hoping to resell on CL and ebay. So I'm scouring Craigslist, where I found these two sets, Zenith Z1926W & RCA FMR-455W....and know I need to expand potential sources.

Yeah, I can certainly try to repair myself. I don't have the training but some basic understanding. I asked a couple friends(who I hate to ask)- both tv and radio and electronic career guys, who came up with two or three areas to check out. Both said they have never seen that particular pattern before. I've got three areas or things to check, so maybe I'll get lucky there.

As an audiokarma.org member, I didn't see that video karma.org existed....joined the other day and need to complete the final step. I'm looking forward to just perusing that site, too. We need twins of ourselves, to cover all the interests and website activity. :-)

Thanks again, I know you have a nice collection of old tv's and are an expert at repairing - appreciate your suggestions!

Phil
 
I TOO WAS HOPING JUSTIN WOULD CONTRIBUTE.....

Good advce Justin. I belong to Audiokarma, but
also did not know of Videokarma. Goodwills are
a good place to check but, as Phil said, they do
get picked over quickly. A lot of dealers here
in NJ, caught on with the Salvation Army's in
the '90s and, began working back room deals with
the Mgr's on whatever was old.

Given that CRT's are no longer produced, I think
it's worth trying to save any reasonably working
set, if it is a preference to watch a CRT as opposed
to a Flat screen. I bet in the future there will
be a re-surgence of NOS parts, but for the
sets of the 90s to 2000's. NOS parts seem to
show up around 15 years after something is no
longer produced. Plus I also believe, that some
day CRT's will come back just as Vinyl Recordings,
Record Players/Turntables and New Tube amps (mostly
high end) but nonetheless being produced again.

I hope both of you do well with your collections.
No matter what the decade or style, all of us are
in it for the same reasons.

Catch you later Phil and Justin,

Louis
 
Another place to find CRT TV's--yard sales!!Sometimes you can try to talk the seller down to--FREE!!Esp at the end of the day when the set doesn't sell.Remember these are unusable unless you get a converter or the set DOES have a Video input-you then plug in a video source into the set-such as a VCR or DVD player-or even a Laserdisc player.Since my Laserdisc player has a built in modulator-Ch#3,4 this worked good on the old DuMont TV I used to have-watched the horror movie "The Thing" made it MORE spooky!The orig Thing with James Arness as the Thing.
 
I was at an estate sale this weekend and there were two CRT TVs there. Both were free. One was probably from the 90's and the other was from the late 70's. I have too many CRT TVs as it is now and no where to put them, so I passed on them.
 
I know this problem

This is a common symptom with this design of RCA TV.
The main filter capacitor is open in the power-supply. It is a metal-can electrolytic.
It is a very weird symptom, and a bit of a fooler. However you will find that the main electrolyic is open.
 
If you haven't worked inside a television set be very careful. They can store High Voltage and give you a wallop that can send you flying across the room. ALWAYS discharge capacitors before even touching them. They have a bad bite to them!
 
Whirlcool is correct

This is a hot-chassis TV, with about 20KV on the CRT. Unless you are familiar with TV repair I wouldn't do this repair yourself.
If you go to a local shop and say "I have an RCA CTCXXX chassis with the CLASSIC hourglass picture", they will know what to do.
If they give you the runaround, go elsewhere. Find an old-timer. Big-Box repair centers won't be of any help in this case.
The CTC number should be on the back of the TV. Tell them an RCA expert says a "can-lytic" causes this symptom.
This one is a bit of a slam-dunker. If the tech looks at you cross-eyed. Walk.
 
I think reply #14 by paulg is correct-my '81 rca garage TV did that or something similar and an open filter cap was the cause-found one of similar ratings,installed and all fixed :) This set and my other early '80s era TVs run cool enough without fan,but I had a 1976 RCA that had quite a few hot-running transistors and that one could have used a fan.
 
Hi guys - I'm just finding more followups to my post and will comment later - but wanted to push a big thank you (very much) for the response....will reply a little more later....

Phil
 

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