'50's 17" RCA B&W

[peverett]

It looks like RCA used the horrible plastic on the yoke that falls apart over time. This seems to be common on RCA and Zenith sets of that time period.

[Tubejunke]

Originally Posted by peverett

It looks like RCA used the horrible plastic on the yoke that falls apart over time. This seems to be common on RCA and Zenith sets of that time period.

I have seen it on nearly every brand at one time or another; yet I have many NOS yokes that are just as old, but the plastic is like new. I figure that the constant heating and cooling process that the plastic is subject to might have something to do with it, because right now I STILL have the infamous 1959 Zenith Space Command (that I couldn't give away) set with low hours on it and the yoke is mint. I also have another set of similar vintage that is well used and the plastic is in shreds.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by peverett

It looks like RCA used the horrible plastic on the yoke that falls apart over time. This seems to be common on RCA and Zenith sets of that time period.

I don't think that is the orignal yoke. RCA yokes looked slightly different. Take the yoke cover and centering device from the Olympic that you acquired. That thing isn't worth spending time and money on. They were lousy sets and there's too many parts missing.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I don't think that is the orignal yoke. RCA yokes looked slightly different. Take the yoke cover and centering device from the Olympic that you acquired. That thing isn't worth spending time and money on. They were lousy sets and there's too many parts missing.

Actually, the one on the Olympic is starting to come apart and I don't think it would hold up to being disturbed. I'll either have to find a good yoke cover or make one.

I did begin the recap tonight and this set has been worked on several times. First off, one chassis mounting nut and a mounting screw are missing. Also, only one of the cabinet back mounting clips remains. Once I got the chassis out, I discovered where some resistors had been changed (one in the power supply and one in the horizontal output circuit). There were also some early orange drop caps that had obviously been replaced. This chassis uses a mix of point-to-point wiring and PC boards. Unfortunately, the PC boards are mounted in such a way that they have to be dismounted from the main chassis in order to "properly" replace components. Of course, one could do like the previouse technician did and cut off the old part from the top of the board, bend the leads into a "J" hook, mount the new part on the topside of the board, crimp the leads together, and solder. I'd like to replace the parts "correctly"; but, I'll just have to see how much trouble it is to remove the boards.

BTW, this will no longer be a fully American TV. For the exception of one 1600V Sprague/Vishay Orange Drop, the rest of the caps were made in either China, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, or Japan. At least they appear to be of good quality.

As far as the Olympic, I may play around with it; but, it won't be anything I invest a great deal of time or money into restoring. Especially since it's missing parts and has a weak CRT.