[drh4683]

If youd like to really get into TV troubleshooting, this set is a great way to start. First thing that needs to be done is isolate the tuner from the chassis. You can go on ebay and see if you can find a tuner subber. Simply connect the output of the tuner subber to the video IF cable of the TV set (the large black co-axial lead thats connected ontop of the TV tuner). If the tuner is defective, you should have a picture displayed on the screen. if not, the problem is withing the chassis.

According to the descriptions, you have an IF problem.

Whats the status on the 6DS4 rf amp (on the tuner)? Its a nuvistor, a small metal cased tube.

By chance do you have a tube tester? If you have a VTVM we can really get into troubleshooting. If you dont have either and would like to seriously get into servicing these old sets, you can get great deals on ebay. I have an RCA WV-98C voltohmyst VTVM and a sencore TC-162 tube checker. These are my heavily used instruments. You need a VTVM as it has high input impeadance (11 meg on my RCA with its DC probe in place). Some digital mulit meters have high input impeadance too (about 10 meg) and are OK. This can be enjoyable and educational if its something youd like to do. Nobody in the TV business wants to work on these sets anymore and will give you a high estimate to scare you off. ITs because of that or its another way of them telling you "we dont know how to fix it" and give you the sky high price.