New GE Locomotive Project
 

Howdy tv dudes. Between my classic car stuff and antique telephone projects been away and off the oscilliscope screen a while. But like the clap or uncouth relatives, I'm back.

So I have a peach GE Locomotive on the bench awaiting anesthesia and routine surgery. It is totally complete with the double D CRT mask (my preference for locomotives). I last did a Locomotive back around 1997 so it's been awhile and I'm rusty on this chassis model.

What particular areas should I give more than usual attention to in this project? Or is just a routine recap and component evaluation all that's really required? This one is really nice like NEVER neglected and I want it to play as nice as it looks!

George

Cramped chassis with caps hidden topside and in HV cage. Fairly standard recap unless globar heater string resistors are open then you want to make up a replacement (preferably with inrush limiting).

I did one back in spring. A recap and basic adjustments were all it needed, and it performs well for it's vintage.

Old thread here, this is a very popular set that is a decent, reliable player, and an interesting design... fun set!

http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=269086

Word to the wise... radiotronman is quite correct about protecting the speaker... it is very easy to poke a finger through it while working on the chassis.

jr

I have, just the chassis from one.
I didn't repair it, as the top of the cabinet was all bashed in and the parts were missing.
The CRT was replaced in the 50's, with an RCA non-aluminized replacement and it was weak. Some of the tubes were replaced, that proved the the set was used into the late 60's. :scratch2:

I have one sitting on my bench (aka kitchen counter) that I've been working on, kind of lost interest for a bit but been getting back to it recently.

It is a bit of a pain to work on, those sideways mounted boards with the caps that wrap around the backside are a bummer but not impossible. The set responded easily to recapping and is working great now.

Thanks guys. Hopefully I'll get it into my bench later today. Wondering if I should replace the selenium rectifiers with 1N-04 or 06? Probably be smart and just go with 06.

George

1n4007 , 1kv 1 amp

As "Fraggle" as these things are, one wonders how they handled 'em back in the day...I betcha a "Repurposed" one w/ a Porta-Potty cabinet would be The Berries for an old TV nut...

Likely a good idea... I used 4005s* (600 v peak reverse) but the 06 will give you a little extra margin, if you experience large line voltage spikes.

http://www.kingtronics.com/pdf/1N4001.pdf

*still using up a bag of 100 that I bought several years ago. Never had a problem with them.

jr

I think it would be cooler to do it the other way around: take a rectangular screen locomotive with a good cabinet, but a dud CRT and fly, and a working portacolor with a crappy cabinet, then make a color locomotive. :D