[RitchieMars]

Wow, you weren't kidding about the condition! I can't believe anyone would throw that away! It's very presentable, with only a few small rough spots like the kind that you can fix up pretty easily with something like Howard's Restore-A-Finish like what I used on my mahogany cabinet. The grille cloth looks great, and you already said you got something of a picture so at least you know the CRT and flyback have survived.

Now as far as what to do about your Motorola, it's entirely up to you. I won't say that you necessarily need any experience with repairing electronics, because I know I certainly didn't when I bought my Zenith. I too had plugged up my set and ran it for awhile, wondering if maybe it just needed some adjustments but of course, it needed much more than that!

If you know how to use a soldering iron and a digital multimeter ( I mainly check resistors with it actually ) and a few basic hand tools, then replacing the capacitors in your set wouldn't be too bad. I won't lie; it can take awhile and requires some patience. You would probably be able to buy all of the capacitors you needed online for around $40 or less, and of course you'd need to find a schematic. I wanted a tube tester to test the tubes, and I've only recently acquired one, thanks to my mom!

But yeah, just take your time and study up on the basics and go the best route that suits your time and budget. I was a member here at VK for a long time before I ever touched the capacitors in my Zenith. Following along with some of the amazing restorations I've read about on here certainly provided me with a good general idea of what might be in store. In the end, whether you decide to tear into your set and restore it or not, at least you've saved one from the curb that could have easily been destroyed. That alone makes you a pretty cool guy, in my book!