Zenith Color Console (1990)

[rwagoner]

Can I ask what may be a stupid question (for even considering this) ... while looking into this repair I had sent a message to a company that had listed the two boards this TV uses. They have both, and are "factory rebuilt, new old dealer stock" and sold with no warranty... $50 each. Is it worth buying them "in case" or should I just plan -- ultimately -- to not repair it if it becomes unrepairable with the current boards?

[zeno]

I wouldnt. Its risky buying NOS modules. If its unsealed it may be
a returned dud. A lot of the stuff on Ebay is someone selling off an old
shop & knowing nothing about anything. If it was DEFINATELY a former
parts suppler selling his NOS you could probably trust them.
Watch the Craigs list for free TV's. Investigate any model starting SG57 or SG27.
They were common sets. You may find a free one.

Originally Posted by rwagoner

Can I ask what may be a stupid question (for even considering this) ... while looking into this repair I had sent a message to a company that had listed the two boards this TV uses. They have both, and are "factory rebuilt, new old dealer stock" and sold with no warranty... $50 each. Is it worth buying them "in case" or should I just plan -- ultimately -- to not repair it if it becomes unrepairable with the current boards?

[JohnCT]

Originally Posted by rwagoner

Can I ask what may be a stupid question (for even considering this) ... while looking into this repair I had sent a message to a company that had listed the two boards this TV uses. They have both, and are "factory rebuilt, new old dealer stock" and sold with no warranty... $50 each. Is it worth buying them "in case" or should I just plan -- ultimately -- to not repair it if it becomes unrepairable with the current boards?

Zenith rebuilt modules were a 20% failure right out of the box in my experience (red labels), and I might be a bit generous on the percentage. Now, if you can find yellow label boxes that are factory sealed, then those boards would be a safe bet as the yellow labels denoted brand new boards. If the factory seal is broken, I wouldn't bother as God knows what's in the box now.

Back then, we didn't have the option to buy one or the other: when the TVs were new and in current production, warranty parts came in the yellow label boxes. As the TVs were in production for a while, the next order for the same board might come in a red label rebuilt box.

John