loganscuda
This/These
My son picked up this 1953 GE television he wants restored. I replaced 1 bad capacitor I knew was bad and got it to come on for about 5 minutes then another cap or more went out.
Any post war Television Repairmen here?
- Thread starter loganscuda
- Start date
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Is the screen black now?
Do the tubes still light up?
Do the tubes still light up?
loganscuda
This/These
The screen is black now. It went from full white to a dot to nothing. This is how it is now as far as the tubes.
At one point in time there were service manuals for the old tv sets. Testing and repairing every circuit. 35 years ago, i was learning, working for a tv repairman. He had a library full of manuals.
loganscuda
This/These
I found a guy that can get me the tubes and capacitors and resistors locally but not sure if I want to take on this project. It would be fun but do not want to go down a rabbit hole. I have little experience with tubes. I have worked on touch tube buttons in Otis Elevators but that is as far as it gets.
Most tube TVs have two sections. No video, but has audio means the high voltage section has a problem. No audio, but video means the low voltage section has a problem.
Friends in the Navy that repaired TVs (40 yrs ago) had a go-to company schematics for the old sets. I think samswebsite.com is the current link. Those schematics are easy to follow and tell you what voltages/resistance to expect. They generally have good troubleshooting tips.
One word of warning, if you turn the set on, then off to work on it, make sure you carefully ground the capacitor that has the wire leading to the picture tube. That cap holds lots of voltage and it will light you up.
Friends in the Navy that repaired TVs (40 yrs ago) had a go-to company schematics for the old sets. I think samswebsite.com is the current link. Those schematics are easy to follow and tell you what voltages/resistance to expect. They generally have good troubleshooting tips.
One word of warning, if you turn the set on, then off to work on it, make sure you carefully ground the capacitor that has the wire leading to the picture tube. That cap holds lots of voltage and it will light you up.
Yea find a Sams if possible as Bobacuda said.
If the screen is black and the tubes are lit, next check is for high voltage. That is done at that cap attached to the side of the picture tube. Not sure what the voltage is on a set that old and a pix tube that small. Big '70s sets could be 30,000 volts or more. Be careful, there is a special probe to use that slides under that cap. You want to start with high voltage because those components are the most expensive. Once all that HV stuff, and the pix tube, is verified good, the repair is probably downhill from there. Worst possible case is the big transformer for the high voltage, called the 'flyback transformer' is shot. They would go bad all the time when I was doing this work. Finding one of those may be difficult. There is a big diode in that circuit to look at too. I guess it would be a tube in a set that old.
If there is no crackling or static, the HV is likely out.
If the screen is black and the tubes are lit, next check is for high voltage. That is done at that cap attached to the side of the picture tube. Not sure what the voltage is on a set that old and a pix tube that small. Big '70s sets could be 30,000 volts or more. Be careful, there is a special probe to use that slides under that cap. You want to start with high voltage because those components are the most expensive. Once all that HV stuff, and the pix tube, is verified good, the repair is probably downhill from there. Worst possible case is the big transformer for the high voltage, called the 'flyback transformer' is shot. They would go bad all the time when I was doing this work. Finding one of those may be difficult. There is a big diode in that circuit to look at too. I guess it would be a tube in a set that old.
If there is no crackling or static, the HV is likely out.
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pishta
I know I'm right....
Put a 20" flat-screen in it. What's he gonna watch? There is nothing on the TV band anymore. It went all digital. You could install an 300 ohm RF modulator to play Atari on it but I don't know what you can watch on it in It's repaired state. Make it a backlit aquarium.
Blind Squirrel
Well-Known Member
My grandfathers service record listed him as some sort of Navy motion picture something or other. He was a repairman after the war. I've looked at the stacks of manuals (and other stuff) many times and thought about just throwing it all away. But I always think. What a waste. If you have a make and model number I might could take a look. But I ain't promising anything. Its a pretty daunting task. I don't think he was much of an organizer.
Side note: I do know that safety is a major concern. Somethings can bite even after the power is off and unplugged.
Side note: I do know that safety is a major concern. Somethings can bite even after the power is off and unplugged.
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
Be DAMN careful. High, deadly voltages in there. The big wire to the side of the CRT is thousands of volts, and that CRT is a VERY efficient capacitor. It, the CRT, can retain a deadly HV charge for MONTHS
First thing you need is a diagram/ schematic. ANY electrolytic cap is immediately suspect. The smaller caps are likely what are called "paper" meaning, two pieces of foil (the "plates") wrapped with oiled/ waxed paper of some type for a dielectric, dipped in some form of beeswax/ etc for a case. There is a "sort of" guide online for modern caps to replace the paper ones
For electrolytic, buy commone grade modern replacements, as close to the capacity (microfarads) as you can get with AT LEAST as much (or more) voltage rating.
Modern caps are generally smaller than the old ones, and you can sometimes "gut" the old metal cans and put the replacements in the old cans
Replacing Capacitors in Old Radios and TVs
Capacitor Tips re Antique Tube Radio Restorations
Antique Radio Forums • View topic - Capacitor source
capacitors
First thing you need is a diagram/ schematic. ANY electrolytic cap is immediately suspect. The smaller caps are likely what are called "paper" meaning, two pieces of foil (the "plates") wrapped with oiled/ waxed paper of some type for a dielectric, dipped in some form of beeswax/ etc for a case. There is a "sort of" guide online for modern caps to replace the paper ones
For electrolytic, buy commone grade modern replacements, as close to the capacity (microfarads) as you can get with AT LEAST as much (or more) voltage rating.
Modern caps are generally smaller than the old ones, and you can sometimes "gut" the old metal cans and put the replacements in the old cans
Replacing Capacitors in Old Radios and TVs
Capacitor Tips re Antique Tube Radio Restorations
Antique Radio Forums • View topic - Capacitor source
capacitors
loganscuda
This/These
I can verify voltage is still there right on the wire that’s on the tube about 6 hours after unplugging it. I did find it on the Sams. Thanks a bunch
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loganscuda
This/These
Thanks for the offer. I did find the schematics and some pretty good literature. My son found a guy in Austin that told him he is now retired but would be willing to help him take on the project and show him how to replace and test using his equipment. The guy said he doesn’t see very well anymore and his equipment is just sitting there.
loganscuda
This/These
If he doesn’t want to fix it he is going to use it for his cat. Not a litter box. His cat like to hide. I saw a couple of videos where they wired in to ad a jack to plug in a DVD player.
Yep, that tube can be a killer, the Navy acyually had a wand like device to pry up the insulator with the lead on the tube and ground it to discharge it.
If Ya don't know what your doing, don't mess with it, but you do what ya want, we all warned Ya.
You won't get any use out of it, I like the flat screen suggestion or fish tank ( to lazy to look up how to spell aquariumn)
If Ya don't know what your doing, don't mess with it, but you do what ya want, we all warned Ya.
You won't get any use out of it, I like the flat screen suggestion or fish tank ( to lazy to look up how to spell aquariumn)
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I was the 2nd to the last graduating class in vocational school for TV and Radio repair. That was 1981.
I worked in a TV repair shop from 1979 to 1983.
That vintage of TV had a ion trap for the CRT and the CRT is most likely very weak. The fly back is the next item to puke after that. Unfortunately I would not recommend a restoration.
I worked in a TV repair shop from 1979 to 1983.
That vintage of TV had a ion trap for the CRT and the CRT is most likely very weak. The fly back is the next item to puke after that. Unfortunately I would not recommend a restoration.
Treblig
Well-Known Member
I saw this post the other day but didn't join in. I know that on these old TVs if you replace one component with a brand new part it throw off something else. The new part will function at a level that some other older parts can't handle (burning them out) because of their age.
REMEMBER - The old electronics can zap you and hurt you BUT the new electronics (computerized) can be zapped by you and you can seriously damage them!! The tables have finally turned!!
REMEMBER - The old electronics can zap you and hurt you BUT the new electronics (computerized) can be zapped by you and you can seriously damage them!! The tables have finally turned!!
What? All I have is an antenna on the roof. Plenty to watch.
Treblig
Well-Known Member
Did you get your reception issue fixed???
pishta
I know I'm right....
Gut it and make it a cat box? remove the tube, line it with a pillow and put a little disco ball in it. hole in the floor to allow him to crawl up in there....
loganscuda
This/These
That’s what He was thinking. He even said a disco ball, a heated pad and a catnip dispenser. Maybe some side curtains (red velvet)
loganscuda
This/These
That’s what I have is a roof antenna. Still have more channels than I want. I miss the good old days with 4 choices. When I had cable we had 300 channels and still couldn’t find anything to watch. Now PBS is my go to.
Treblig
Well-Known Member
YEA!!! And when we changed channels back in tha old days the damn TV didn't have to think about it for 5 min before making the connection!!
loganscuda
This/These
You just smacked the top of it.
Well Mr. Rusty Rod, I have an idea for you, here's a signal booster for your antenna that's cheap and easy to assemble and tune, even works on cell phones, sorry, won't work on hand cranked land lines
I am interested in the "OLD STYLE" original tv capicators, dont need to work. various sizes if possible.
Pm me if you have any.
Pm me if you have any.
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