RCA 8" Portable Working Again

[compucat]

I finally installed the repaired yoke for which Robert (ohohyodafarted) designed a new cover. As anyone with this model knows, the plastic cover on the yoke warps over time which can cause the centering rings to come loose and fall off. After being restored nine years ago, the yoke cover finally gave out and would not retain the centering rings. Robert fabricated a new styrene cover which holds the centering rings perfectly. The workmanship is superb and I am very grateful as this is one of my favorite sets. The pictures below show the yoke with the new cover next to the old warped yoke cover. The set is now working again. While I had it open I cleaned the controls and did a set up adjustment. Even after nine years of regular post restoration use it is still clean inside. The centering rings work properly now and the picture is as good as ever. This is one of the better quality metal portables.

[Adam]

Those are great sets, I use mine all the time. Having used a power transformer and not used circuit boards, and still managed to fit it all in that small cabinet, RCA really did good with these sets.

[Phil Nelson]

I agree, this is a dandy performer. I remember those rings well. Didn't seem terribly sturdy.

Mine looked terrific after I finished recapping it , except the picture was slightly tilted off level. Nearly drove me nuts. With the chassis outside the cabinet, I adjusted the yoke to level it, using a spirit level to confirm that the chassis was level on the workbench, and temporarily collapsing the vertical and holding the level against the horizontal line.

It looked perfect on the workbench, but tilted again after I put it back in the case. I even tried tilting it in the opposite direction on the workbench, then reinstalling it. After about three go-rounds, I declared victory and left it with the slight tilt.

Someone suggested that the cabinet might have become magnetized (?).

I have a cosmetically nicer one waiting in the queue. If I get around to restoring it and have the same problem, I'll know that I'm bewitched

Phil Nelson

[compucat]

Originally Posted by Phil Nelson

I agree, this is a dandy performer. I remember those rings well. Didn't seem terribly sturdy.

Mine looked terrific after I finished recapping it , except the picture was slightly tilted off level. Nearly drove me nuts. With the chassis outside the cabinet, I adjusted the yoke to level it, using a spirit level to confirm that the chassis was level on the workbench, and temporarily collapsing the vertical and holding the level against the horizontal line.

It looked perfect on the workbench, but tilted again after I put it back in the case. I even tried tilting it in the opposite direction on the workbench, then reinstalling it. After about three go-rounds, I declared victory and left it with the slight tilt.

Someone suggested that the cabinet might have become magnetized (?).

I have a cosmetically nicer one waiting in the queue. If I get around to restoring it and have the same problem, I'll know that I'm bewitched

Phil Nelson

I have noticed that screen geometry is not perfect on these sets. I too had to carefully work out a slight tilt. If you look closely at a straight line on the screen and follow it down such as slowly rolling the vertical hold, the line will bend as it goes down the screen. If you look at the schematic, these are very simple sets with no more circuitry than necessary. Therefore, I think geometry correction was sacrificed among other things for the sake of compactness. When watching program material, its imperfections are not very noticeable. I'm glad these sets are common as it makes them easier to get parts for.

[dewickt]

Tilt can be caused by the case being magnetized, simple fix is to degauss it like a color set using a hand held degaussing coil.

[Phil Nelson]

Wow, it's definitely magnetized. I found the TV and a compass, which deflects most strongly near the back as you approach the power transformer.

I got out my second set, which shows some magnetism, but not as strong and not in the same places.

I don't have a degaussing coil (anybody have a spare for sale?). Perhaps I could try using a soldering gun, although my gun's not very big.

Phil Nelson

[compucat]

Even out of the cabinet' geomerty is imperfect over the face of the screen. I don't doubt that the cabinet can become magnetized. Between the transformer, speaker, and yoke magetism of the steel cabinet is inevitable.

[7"estatdef]

Hey Phil
My dad back in the '60s made a degaussing coil that he used on the family RCA CTC-7 If memory servers me correctly it was 100 turns of #30 wound in a 18" circle covered in at white bandage tape. The two ends of the coil connected to the AC line.

ps. In does get alittle warm when using.

Terry