well i got a bit of a problem with my zenith tv. i don't use it as much as i use to but it has always work until lately. about a month ago i went to turn it and nothing happened at all. after a bit of messing around it eventually fired up and started working great again. well i go to try using it again and no matter what i do i cant get it go on. i guess the next step would be to take the back off and take a look for problems but unfortunately i don't really know much about tv's but i figure it is old enough that it should be repairable. i haven;t even told my mom it is broken for the fact that i know the first word out of her mouth will be throw it out, it is broken. in my opinion it ain't broke till it is destroyed.
thanks
wolfie
heres some pics of the tv for your enjoyment
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jp-BsoUzh_A/TZPxziak9oI/AAAAAAAABGU/Gpz9hubZLfE/s800/basement.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--l7xbAJFNZo/T4Tim1uOkaI/AAAAAAAAC2o/N0awgXe3Zng/s512/IMG_3111.JPG

First question is, where do you live? Maybe one of us can help you out :)

Orangeville, Ontario Canada. i was thinking about posting on my local fre cycle hoping someone might know a retired tv repairman that works for free but i thought i might try a forum first. i would really hate to get rid of the tv but i don;t want to be dumping any money into it since i could replace it for pretty much nothing. i like the look of the thing.

That set looks like it uses the 9-160 power supply module. These modules were prone to having poor solder connections. The edge connectors on the module were prone to develop intermittent connections.

You'll need to pull the module and resolder pretty much everything on the board. Pay special attention to the flyback transformer, power resistors, and the big diodes that come off the flyback transformer.

Clean the edge connectors with contact cleaner.

Orangeville, Ontario Canada. i was thinking about posting on my local fre cycle hoping someone might know a retired tv repairman that works for free but i thought i might try a forum first. i would really hate to get rid of the tv but i don;t want to be dumping any money into it since i could replace it for pretty much nothing. i like the look of the thing.

If you're not up to the task yourself, I know a guy in Shelburne that might be able to help you out, he goes by rcavictim on the diyaudio.com board.

thanks everyone. i think i might try taking a look at it first. you never know if your in over your head unless you try.

i started tearing into it and not sure if there is really anything there that should be stopping it from working. just dust.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2IPNFW3qFXQ/T4WCJNmR6ZI/AAAAAAAAC20/Z7pVE1usHB8/s800/IMG_3116.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qtVhZHR3Hmo/T4WCFGVujPI/AAAAAAAAC2s/phBx1KgzCgo/s800/IMG_3126.JPG

Take advice above from RadioTVnut.
I always was told to replace the 9-160 because the shop owner wanted them fixed in the home.

If you see no other suspect solder joints, plug it back in and try it. Bet it works!

i think i am over my head so i just hooked everything back up and stuck it back together. not sure what i want to do with it. why the heck does electronics have to be so complicated?

i started tearing into it and not sure if there is really anything there that should be stopping it from working. just dust.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2IPNFW3qFXQ/T4WCJNmR6ZI/AAAAAAAAC20/Z7pVE1usHB8/s800/IMG_3116.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qtVhZHR3Hmo/T4WCFGVujPI/AAAAAAAAC2s/phBx1KgzCgo/s800/IMG_3126.JPG

The first place I would looking for loose connections, is that area that looks dark, in the center of the board. Power handling components are the first places I look. Use a magnifying glass and look at the connections around flyback, chokes and power resisters.

I'd look at the parts on the top side of the board above the char mark...they could have burnt up.

the things on top of the char mark looking area in the center look like ceramic resisters.

what peoples thoughts on maybe using a heat gun on the board? i don't think i would really be up to the task of re soldering everything.

I say solder it. You just can't be sure with a heat gun, but with a good soldering iron and decent technique you'll know if you got it right. I had a Zenith from about that time frame that had an intermitant, likely caused by bad solder joint, that made the set some times not respond to the power button, but respond to a good smack to the cabinet. It didn't hamper operation and was too small of a annoyance for me to bother fixing so I left it be until I had to toss it in a move.

The blackened area in the center is sure suspect, if they are power resistors even more so.

Solder those and the Flyback pins (round finned white thing) and see if it works.

thanks. no smack to the side of it could get it to come on. that was one of the first things i tried. maybe when i feel a bit more patient i might take another swing at it. over the last couple of weeks i have been feeling a bit lazy. i haven't even work on my truck. just loaded more crap in the back of it.

Simple things to try, real simple:
Does this use a standard on-off switch? Could be flaky. If just two wires running to it, just short it and then plug it in, see what happens. Suprising how many sets have been tossed because of a bad switch.

Is the cord okay? Got voltage to the chassis?

With it plugged in and switched on, take a stick or ruler and push on different areas of the board, so that it really flexes. Sometimes that will close the bad solder joint. Might be able to narrow it down. The cracks of a bad solder joint can be really, really small. Magnifying glass time, and if in doubt just solder it.

on off switch since i never use it. i usually just shut the power bar that it is plug into off and the cord looks good which actually surprised me