[cwmoser]

Looks like my Zenith porthole - mine is a 16" CRT - 16EP4.

You will find that the CRT is supported with the front mask - a rubber flange like thing that surrounds the front of the CRT. There are also springs that hold it in position too.

There is an ION trap around the neck of the CRT and you unscrew it to remove it. Mark how its position and the orientation, also mark an arrow on it so you know which way the ION trap goes on.

The first think I would do is remove the chassis from the cabinet. There is a slide switch on the front that needs to be unscrewed first. Make sure you discharge the CRT using a clip lead from the chassis to the wire that attaches to the metal cone.

Take a lot of pictures with your digital camera so you know how to reassemble it.

Remove the connector on the back of the CRT.
Then loosen the ION trap and slide it off.
Then remove the springs and wire hangers but make sure you have pictures to refer to when you want to put it all back together.

Now the tricky part is this ... after doing the above, the CRT is held by the neck in the yoke and by the front mask. You have to loosen the 2 screws holding the mask and also hold the CRT so you don't break the tube at the neck. With the mask removed, carefully slide the CRT out of the yoke. If it won't easily slide out, it might be hung on a paper spacer in the yoke. If that happens, take a piece of paper like a post card and wrap it around the neck and slide it in the neck. What we are trying to do is use the post card as guide. If the post card won't go one way, remove it and push it in the other way. I had to use the post card trick to put the CRT back in too.

With the CRT removed, you can use a small test CRT till you get the TV working.

How about posting some more pictures of your Zenith porthole TV?
Your Zenith porthole chassis looks exactly like mine. Bet it has two chassis's.


Carl