CTC-4 Director 21

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by Phil Nelson

I'm not clear on the restoration status of this set. Did the previous owner do some minimal "make it work" repair years ago? Did he do a full restoration? Something in between?

If the original electrolytics have not been replaced -- or at least checked! -- I would not feel safe running this set for prolonged periods.

Forget alignment for the moment. TVs don't un-align themselves by sitting around. Install a full set of tube shields and see if they help.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

The previous owner was a TV repairman. I was told he would fix the set if anything was acting up with it. He never did a full restoration, he just kept the set alive. I can see some wax caps that are still on the boards and in other places visible on the top side of the chassis.

[SwizzyMan]

Putting shields on the tubes helped a whole lot. There is still some interference with the color picture but not the B&W picture. Colors are off in some settings and text is difficult to make out. I used my CTC-7 for a picture comparison (hope you dont mind me riding your coattails with that panther lamp Phil! ). Please ignore the moire effect on the 4 that isnt visible under normal vision nor is it that distorted looking. There is still some beat frequency but that's about it for interference.

[MRX37]

Looks like you've gone from 90 to 95% there, unless you want to recap the set.

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by MRX37

Looks like you've gone from 90 to 95% there, unless you want to recap the set.

Seems like I might have to recap to ensure its longevity.

[miniman82]

Seems like the color was up too far in those shots, but it's tough to get representational shots off the screen. Make sure you test all the tubes too, mine had a pair of 6Cl6's that tested nearly dead but it still worked.

[Phil Nelson]

Hey, the more panthers the better!

That picture stands up pretty nicely against the CTC-7. This set is already working so well, I'd be inclined to use a light hand with further work. Do what you think necessary to make it safe & enjoyable to play, but don't disturb things (convergence & alignment, for instance) unnecessarily.

Phil Nelson

[SwizzyMan]

I'm going to replace all filter caps, all electrolytics, and out of tolerance resistors. Going to sub the two 6CL6 in the color circuit to see if I get any difference in my light blue colors not really showing up.

[Hagstar]

With my CTC4 what I did was replace every wax and 'lytic cap before applying power even once. Too much irreplaceable stuff in there to risk a shorted paper cap taking it out. Then I ended up replacing a few brown dip caps (installed in the 70s I'd guess) as well.

[Electronic M]

The caps to be wary of would be PS lytics, sweep/deflection stage caps (where the unobtainium lurks), and since it is not working quite right RF/IF/color stage caps.

[SwizzyMan]

Subbed the two 6CL6's. Powered it up slowly. The colors are spot on now and I now have a nice picture. Still a bit of interference and small letters are hard to read. Needs some dynamic convergence, static conv is good. Set isnt drawing a lot of current. Only about 2.5 amps according to the PR57. Operating at a full 375 watts the set would draw 3.2 amps but it isnt even near that at 115 volts. I do still plan to electronically restore this set just trying to get a base-line on what Im dealing with. Ignore the Moire effects. The blue screen is turned up a bit too high in these photos.

[Electronic M]

I think you want to optimize focus, increase contrast, and reduce color level.

[Phil Nelson]

Amen to what Electronic M said.

Also, speaking as one who has served hard time grinding his teeth over dynamic convergence, I'd try all other adjustments & tweaks before you mess with that. And if you're convinced it's necessary, read the instructions carefully and perform the steps in order.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[MRX37]

"Ahhhhh! Patrick! The screen looks like a fishbowl and I see wavy lines everywhere!"

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by MRX37

"Ahhhhh! Patrick! The screen looks like a fishbowl and I see wavy lines everywhere!"

I looks like IF strip ringing, by either a bad tube or loose connection. I hope, it's not an alignment issue.
Is the CTC4, the only RCA set, that used the 6AZ8 tube.
My Knight-kit R100 receiver uses two of them.

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I looks like IF strip ringing, by either a bad tube or loose connection. I hope, it's not an alignment issue.
Is the CTC4, the only RCA set, that used the 6AZ8 tube.
My Knight-kit R100 receiver uses two of them.

I sure hope it isnt alignment. I'll take a look