I bought this set from Mike aka radotvnut out in NJ. I've had it awhile and have only "tinkered" with it a few times. It is a '72 Zenith Chromacolor 18 in. The reason I dubbed it the "Flower power" is because of the flowers that someone painted on it years ago. I was going to remove them but a close look told me someone spent quite a bit of time painting them so I left it that way. Mike told me that an old lady who was an artist used to own the set and those flowers have been there since the '70s when she owned it. My 5 year old daughter fell in love with the flowers so I gave the set to her, I just have to fix it. I am getting closer. The thing was well packed but as usual, the shipper threw the thing around causing a piece to break off of the cabinet, that was glued back on with industrial strength super glue that I get from work {you can order it through Kimball Midwest} There were three bad tubes IIRC, a 9MN8, 15MF8 and a 6U10. I also replaced the high voltage tube socket and cup with a NOS one from Chesters Electronics. When I first powered it up I could hear the HV hissing, I took the can apart and found that it was ready to burn my house down, it was arcing all over the HV rect. tube and melting the plastic HV cup. The HV tube cap was also badly melted, corroded and scorched. I replaced it by stealing the one from the fly from my '65 Admiral roundie as I just replaced the fly in it, I'm glad I didn't throw it out yet! Also replaced was a 300 MFD@200VDC cap and two NTE 116 diodes that were attached to the positive side of that 300MFD cap. The thing is working now but still has issues, I tested the CRT with a Sencore CR70 it passed all of the shorts,emissions and color tracking tests, on the life test the needle did not drop at all. I can rule that out as far as the brightness problem. I think it lies somewhere in the chroma or brightness curcuits. When the brightness is up all the way it is possible to watch it but is real dark in the low light areas of the screen blacking out the darker details of the picture. The brightness is only acceptable when the color is turned to 3/4 of the way. when you turn the color down, the brightness goes with it. It seems like a leaky cap in that area to me but I could be wrong. I'll keep messing with it, maybe someone here knows what's wrong. There is also one more thing, after I rebuilt the HV section, I still only get 19.5 KV when it calls for 21.5 with the setup switch in the set up position and contrast and brightness all the way down. It is much better than it was, it read 18KV before the repairs. I was a little disappointed when the voltage didn't come up as it should. I know this can cause brightness/focus issues as well. Any tips would be appreciated.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1758.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1769.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1762.jpg
The speaker was also broken from it's mount.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1763.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1772.jpg
Glued in nicely.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1765.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2673.jpg
I tried to remove the carbon tracking but the cup was too badly burned.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2677.jpg
The old cap and diodes, the diodes had become red hot. They were covered in soot.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2693.jpg
I picked this stuff right off the shelf in Chesters.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2702.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2699.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2703.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2705.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2707.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2709.jpg

Nice work with your repairs! The set looks good. As you mentioned, the ~2kV deficiency might be all thats wrong with the set as far as the brightness issue is concerned. Have no idea about the color control affecting the brightness, though.

I like this Chromacolor alot, it has a lot of class. :thmbsp:

those are some of the best sets ever.nothing beats a zenith.great score mark! put it beside that ctc9-you now,that 9 you got at the convention!! i am still waiting.lol

Thanks for the compliments! Here is another pic of the HV tube cap, there was quite a light show going on in there up until the other day! The "new" cap is beside it.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_2694.jpg

See the two white caps marked 648. Replace them with some orange drops of the same value. That may be why the high voltage is a little low. Also I seen that type of cap blow it's gutz in the 25" zenith Chromacolor sets. Even if they check good get rid of them.
I think it is neat you are leaving the flowers on it. It is a part of American history :yes:
Ed

I think it is neat you are leaving the flowers on it. It is a part of American history :yes:
Ed

I agree, actually my sylvania set that i recently posted about (and subsequently was walked through a successfull diag and repair ) has quite a few stickers on its cabinet collected over the last 10 years ive owned it. kindof like a scrapbook of sorts. kinda odd i know but i think its cool, people ask me about it and i give the breif rundown of some of the more important ones.

Concur with replacing the white ceramic time bombs - but if they don't fix it, try the VDR's in the HV adjust circuit - usually below the the Horiz output tube. What's the chassis? Some have one, others have two. DC chassis, perhaps?

Cheers,

I also like the custom paint job, It is very tasteful. It must have been a loved possession for the owner to take the time to decorate it. Logan

I also replaced the high voltage tube socket and cup with a NOS one from Chesters Electronics.

Thank God for places like Chesters! I wonder how many places like that still exist?

I agree with Brian, definitly check the VDR's. Im taking a guess that this is a 14CC16 since it has AFC and you say its a '72. These are nice sets to work on, pull the back off and all the parts are accessable. BTW, your repairs look very clean and professional. The only way to do it! Is chester electronics a local parts distributor in WI?

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/100_1762.jpg
The speaker was also broken from it's mount.

Was the speaker cone damaged? the surround appears to be torn in this pic

Glad to see the zenith got a good home . The old woman who owned that set was a artist and painted things on everything like end tables , furniture and the tv . I watched that tv for years before it was put into storage .

Looks like and sounds like from your description that you may have not enough video drive. Pictures look like the color information is getting through, but you have little or no video. If you turn the color all the way down there is very little or no video left? I would start looking around the delay line, and video amplifier/driver circuits. The HV is a little low, but you should still have a better picture. There may be some out of tolerance high value resistors in the HV circuit, or as suggested maybe some leaky caps still holding the HV down.

Bill R

Definitly check the 121-587 video driver transistor. Ive had leakers and cause low Y on chassis from the 20Y1C38 up to 20CC50's. Transistors are usually good on zeniths, but the video drivers have had their fair share of failures. If you sub out the 121-587 with and NTE type, I think the pin out is different than the original, so dont plug it in like the original or you'll have more problems.

Is that decopage? I usually like everything to be as it was from the factory but I accept exceptions occassionally if there is a good reason. That cat seems to know something is not right or he likes it too. If it was done when the set was new I would think more of it than if it was done in recent times. That is a pretty cool set in general. That broken corner piece can be nicely "welded" back from underneath with a light soldering seam applied while pressing the crack closed. Then maybe a JB weld application to the underside after a scratching or sanding. I am not aware of epoxy's that may have been offered from electronic supply places but I suspect there are such that are maybe better than JB weld. Hopefully all this was not already written here.

I like your idea of industrial strenth super glue much better than my needless advice. Your repair looks great. I didn't know abotu industrial strength super glue. Sorry for too much jibber-jabber!

000

So tell us more about Chesters Electronics!! Is this an "old school" shop like stepping back into the seventies..or early 80's even? And selling Workman replacement parts! Or is this more of a "surplus" type of place??

Chesters is an electronics store that has been in Kenosha for almost 50 years, they are also located in Largo, Fl. They have tubes and other things that you would not expect to find. The store is like going back to the '70s or early '80s, I like going in there just to look at stuff. The wall where I get these NOS color tv parts is never touched, I think I'm the only one buying that stuff {I might make an offer to buy the whole lot of parts one of these days} Some of that has been on the shelf since the '70s! They always laugh and say wow! those price tags are old! we haven't used those in years. They were originally located on 60th st and now are on Sheridan rd by Hwy 50, they have been there for about 20 years now. A lot of stuff here is from thier old store. The store used to be an old grocery store and still kinda looks like one if you look around, the place has never been updated so it does feel like the '70s in there. They can order just about any tube you want or they might just have it on the shelf, you can get parts for many old things there. I've been going there since I was 11 or 12 years old.

I just bought a NOS Zenith semiconductor kit, some are missing but most are there. anyways, I got curious and decided to change out the 121-587 video driver transistor and BAM! She works!:D I have some adjustments to tweak but it looks pretty nice now, convergence could be better.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0384.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0383.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0381.jpg

Wow, nice save on that semiconductor kit! Good for you, I'm glad she's workin', looks good too.

Thanks Tom! This set is my 6 year old daughters, she'll be happy when she comes home tomorrow morning from her sleep over at grandma's. It was set aside for a while now.

Was the speaker cone damaged? the surround appears to be torn in this pic

Sorry I missed this before, It's not torn but looks like it is from the shadow.

Looking very nice!

Nice. Did you get the semiconductor kit in the clear plastic case with the zenith name printed on it? I've got one of those too. The infamous 121-587. Does your kit also have any 212-72 convergence rectifiers? Just curious, don't need one, but they fail alot too. I think the 587 is the most failed transistor in the solid state zeniths. They've been using that since the '68 models. When I see a weird video problem, thats the clulprit almost every time. Did you ever get a sencore super cricket transistor tester? Gotta have one of those. Nothing beats sencore test equipment when working on the old sets.

that is one of the best sets ever.my oldest son s first bedroom set was that one.those old zeniths never die!hope your daughter follows in your footprint by have an appreciation for those quality electronics.zenith - the quality is still there long after the company s demise.

Looks great! Good score on the transistors.

Also love the table it's sitting on; my grandparents had a kitchen table with the same pattern.

-Jim

Nice. Did you get the semiconductor kit in the clear plastic case with the zenith name printed on it? I've got one of those too. The infamous 121-587. Does your kit also have any 212-72 convergence rectifiers? Just curious, don't need one, but they fail alot too. I think the 587 is the most failed transistor in the solid state zeniths. They've been using that since the '68 models. When I see a weird video problem, thats the clulprit almost every time. Did you ever get a sencore super cricket transistor tester? Gotta have one of those. Nothing beats sencore test equipment when working on the old sets.

Yep, thats the kit, I still haven't checked for the convergence rectifier. I won't expect one so when I look I won't be disappointed:D I'll remember this issue whenever I suspect video problems in one of the Zeniths from '68 on. Thanks for the tip on the 587. Still haven't grabbed a super cricket yet but I procrastinate sometimes:yes: I'll get one after I get the garage fixed up, need all the money for that right now.

Nice save!!!

Glad to hear about little places like Chesters and glad they are still around in this disposable day and age!

Wish there was something like that around here....Closest thing to it was the Radio Shack superstore which had EVERYTHING but they have been gone 10 years now.....


Again, nice work :thmbsp::thmbsp: