I recently 'inherited' a RCA Colortrak from a relative and have been playing around with it in an attempt to learn something about 'modern' sets - my most modern set before this is a 1978 CCII.

It's an interesting set, with a decent audio section; an oval speaker on each side of the screen. The power cord isn't attached to the chassis, but is connected through an IEC C17 connector (similar to the power cord on a computer, but without a ground connection). The front panel indicates that it's a 'stereo monitor' - it has an AV input on the back.

It's seen a lot of on-time; it'll be of legal drinking age this September. I'm trying to figure out if the tube is tired or if there is another component problem. The picture is somewhat dark at the factory presets, but is watchable (with somewhat low contrast) if the brightness is turned up to about 75%. The on-screen display doesn't seem to change much in brightness when I do this (it looks dim all the time).

The focus is a compromise between the center and outer edges, and the edge convergence is slightly off until the set warms up. I tried to do a greyscale setup on it, but it doesn't have a service switch that I could see. Did the best I could by eye with a full raster but still about the same. I tried to cook the filaments for a while with a higher voltage, but no improvement. It's an A66 series tube; I've heard of some issues with them especially in mid-90's Zeniths.

Is this set worth doing anything with? I don't have a CRT tester, so no way at the moment to get an objective evaluation of its health, but the cabinet is in okay shape and I might like to use this one as a watcher for a while. If the tube is indeed weak, do these respond to rejuvenation (assuming I can find a rejuvenator that will work on a tube this new)?

-Jim

The CRT could very well be tired after 20 years. The best thing to do would be to obtain a good CRT tester, like a B&K 470 or 480, and test the tube. I've tried to rejuvenate a few of these; but, they usually didn't hold up well. Fortunately, the RCA/Thomson tubes were much better than the Zenith tubes.

Also, there could be some bad caps in the video and power supply areas.

Years ago, I was given a 27" set using this chassis by a TV shop. After replacing the flyback, HOT, and the large fusible resistor in the power supply; it worked fine for several years until I ended up selling it.

That chassis is much better than any recent RCA offerings. RCA started going south with the tuner problems of the CTC17x and CTC18x series of chassis. These would have been reliable sets except for the tuner problems. Many do run trouble free for years after the tuner is fixed. Starting with the CTC197 and newer sets; flyback problems became very common. I get a lot of 2-3 year old RCA's from the repair shop with toasted flyback transformers.

Starting with the CTC197 and newer sets; flyback problems became very common. I get a lot of 2-3 year old RCA's from the repair shop with toasted flyback transformers.

been there, and you guys helped me fix a co-workers 32"-cant remember the chassis number-its an '04 set. flyback, output transister and back in his living room for under 80 bux. he told me he'd give me the set when he gets a new one, whenever that is, cause i had the set hooked up in my apartment for a couple days to test it and it has an awesome picture! probably be a few years but i got my Sylvania you all have also resurrected a few times so im happy to wait.:D

I haven't had the best of luck with those. Is it the set that has the "Sony like" flat screen 27" tube?
Both of mine had power supply issues. It started that they would turn off and on randomly. Just once in awhile at first, but then more frequently until they wouldn't turn on at all. My last one was a 27" "Dimensia" model and altho it had good color, had poor focus along the edges.
They weigh a TON! After the "Dimensia" went out, I told myself NO MORE RCA's of that era.
Your CC2 is a wayyyyyy better set than the RCA.

I think the "Dimensia" sets were in the CTC140 era. Those 140's could be a pain! And, I will agree that a CCII is better than a newer RCA.

Check for a bad capacitor in the video output collector power supply. Also, there is a transistor called the luminance buffer that goes leaky. It'll darken the picture too. These were very reliable tv's (with the exception of an occaisional tuner failure).
By the way, the luminance buffer problem goes all the way up to the CTC169 chassis.