Hello

I have a 1994 Model G25343WK, CTC 177AM2 chassis, RCA console that has once again developed the well known and documented tuner issue. The set was previously repaired, not by me, and now it needs resoldered again.

Are there any issues I need to be aware of before I resolder the tuner? This looks like a straight forward resoldering task, but I thought I would seek the advice of the TV repair and RCA experts before I attempt resoldering. What wattage iron do I need, and any special solder required? I have read that some daisy chain a ground while resoldering. Does this help or hurt?

I was thinking of parting out the set, but like so many of the Thompson/RCA sets of this vintage, the picture is just amazing, and the cabinet, while particleboard and vinyl, is perfect. In fact, if one did not know that the set was 15 years old, it could pass as new. Even has the original remote and instruction manual.

That's an easy one... Just unsolder the tuner bottom cover, and resolder ALL of the ground tabs from the upper tuner shield box where they go through the board. The set uses the tuner shield as a main conductor, for some insane reason. I've fixed literally hundreds of those. Sometimes it messes with the eEprom, which can cause the vertical height to be misadjusted, or the gray scale off. If that happened, you'll have to go to the service menu and re-adjust the setup controls. But try soldering those tabs first. About 8 of 10 times, the eEprom held it's memory.

I use a Weller WTCP iron with a 700 deg. chisel tip. Don't use a pointed tip, as it will just cool off and not allow you to unsolder the bottom tuner cover. If you don't have a tip like that, you can use a soldering gun, just be careful. Or a 45-watt or larger iron with a chisel tip should do.

Charles