[walterbeers]

Well, here is the latest. I replaced the electrolytic caps in the power supply, however haven't yet replaced all of the electrolytic caps that are in the sets circuitry. I have the chassis on the bench, so hooked up the deflection yoke, convergence assembly, and of course the speaker, without the CRT connected, and of course with the horizontal output tube pulled. Applied power with my variac, (actually a switchable isolation transformer "pictured"). At about 50 volts AC I got about 200 volts (of the rated 400 volts) from the power supply, which I suspected. Then raised it to 75 volts AC, and got 300 volts out of the power supply, so gradually raised it to 100 volts AC, and got the rated 400 volts, so left it there for a bit. All tubes lit up, so I hooked up my converter box to the antenna terminals, and got audio. It became promising, so installed the 6BQ4 horizontal output tube. I began to get 20KV high voltage, but heard some arcing, smelled ozone and something getting hot. Then the 1/2 amp fuse in the horizontal output B+ popped, before I could disconnect the set. At least it wasn't the flyback, but I found a bad focus control, arcing internally running too hot to touch. Disconnected the lead providing the focus voltage to the pot, powered it up again, and WOOO!, almost 30 KV, and pop (just a loud arc) so pulled the power cord immediately. Looked at the schematic and I noticed that the regulator 6BD4/6BK4 derives it's bias off of the down side of the focus control, so that explains the excessive HV. Also before hand, I had replaced all of the peaking coils that were bad, (those tan round balls), which nearly all of them were open. (A common problem I have run into with several other sets). Oh yea, by the way, the selenium rectifiers have been replaced with silicon diodes. Also I intend to cover the small new power supply capacitors with cardboard insulator covers to make them look like the originals for appearance sake. Another thing I noticed was that the 6AN8 tube V11 (AGC and Sync Seperator started to glow bright blue, hopefully just a bad tube). So my next move is to find a suitable replacement for the 5 meg ohm focus control. Control is quite large but is only rated, according to the Sams at 1/2 watt, 5 meg ohm. RCA part number 79028. I know workman used to make some of these style controls and focus resistors, so hope I can find something that will work.

Oh yea, speaking of PI, well PIE, the kind you eat (from the post above), the best pies you can buy in the Omaha and Midwest area are frozen ones that are home made from the Village Pie Maker. They can be found in the HY-Vee stores, Bag and Save, and other locations. They are made in Nebraska, from a small company that several local women got together and decided to make a business of it. They use fresh fruit, (not frozen), and have Rhubarb, Cherry, Apple, Mix Berry, Peach and others. Look them up, just type in a search for the Village Pie Maker. Maybe they are even available in your area.