Can anyone identify this model zenith - Videokarma.org TV - Video

mr_fixer · #1 02-12-2009, 04:47 PM

I found this in Craigslist, I'm going to look at it this weekend. Is it a system 3? anything i should look out for on this chassis? thanks, Logan

http://nashville.craigslist.org/ele/1032073271.html

radiotvnut · #2 02-12-2009, 05:59 PM

That's one of the last single knob tuned Zeniths from around '84. It will likely use a 9-181 main module and a 9-186 HV module. These can be a pain to work on, especially if they go dead. Not one of Zenith's better chassis, IMHO. I wouldn't give much for this one.

zenith2134 · #3 02-12-2009, 06:28 PM

I agree with the above. Having owned 2 or 3 of the 9-181 mainboard sets, I know that the pix quality isn't as good as the earlier chassis' . However, they are better than the new CRT sets but that ain't saying much.

bgadow · #4 02-12-2009, 10:35 PM

I have seen some from that era that will knock your socks off. Back when I briefly tried to play tv repairman I did work (if you could call it that) for a used furniture store and he had a whole lineup of these. They were all dead and I never managed to fix either one of them.

mr_fixer · #5 02-12-2009, 11:05 PM

Thanks for the info, based on the reviews i think i will pass on this set as i am limited in storage space. Logan

radiotvnut · #6 02-12-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgadow

I have seen some from that era that will knock your socks off. Back when I briefly tried to play tv repairman I did work (if you could call it that) for a used furniture store and he had a whole lineup of these. They were all dead and I never managed to fix either one of them.

It finally got to the point where my troubleshooting would end with basic power supply checks and a check of the start-up pulse. If this didn't do it, I junked the set. I spent too much time pulling hair out and ruining modules back when these sets were actually worth something. I never did like that chassis and neither did any other TV man in the area. I remember one that would half-way power up. I pulled my hair out finding the problem. Turned out to be a shorted lytic cap inside of the digital tuner. I think it was a 2200uf , 35V cap. If someone has a good troubleshooting procedure for this chassis, please post it so we can all see. I might feel better about these sets if I acutally knew a way to troubleshoot them without losing my religion.

Really, the type of picture on these sets will depend on the CRT. The early versions had a tri-pot tube like what the original system 3 used. Those produced a sharp picture when working right. The picture was not near as good, IMHO, when they went to the more current style inline CRT.

radiotvnut · #7 02-13-2009, 01:23 AM

Does anyone remember the Zenith consoles from the same time period as this one that used a direct access non-cable ready tuner with red LED readout and a pull-on/volume knob? I think this style of tuner replaced the single knob tuner.

Here's an easy way you can determine what chassis is in one of these without removing the back:

1. If it has an AC interlock and a circuit breaker, it's a Chromacolor (or older) set. Save it!

2. Looking at the cabinet back, if the AC cord enters on the left hand side of the back, it's likely a 9-160 based (or a 9-153) System 3.

3. If the cord enters on the right side of the back, it'll have the 9-181 (or newer) chassis.

bgadow · #8 02-13-2009, 12:11 PM

Good tips! I've been tempted by some 80s models but I just don't want to start bringing them home to stay. Yesterday I was in Goodwill and amongst the BPC they had one digitally tuned 19" System 3 for $15. Tempting, yes, but I left it there.

Jeffhs · #9 02-13-2009, 08:05 PM

I had a 13" Zenith portable TV with single-knob 18-position electronic tuning. Bought it new in 1982. It had a good picture then and kept on going for the next 17 years. It was still working and had an excellent picture when I moved in 1999 (had to give it up, as well as a 1979-'80 Zenith 13" 83-channel portable, because of space issues in the apartment I moved to). However, I think the RCA CTC185 I bought when I moved here (and my 1995 Zenith Sentry 2) makes a much sharper, clearer picture than either of the Zenith portables, simply because by the late '90s the delta-gun tube, which is used in both sets, had been abandoned in favor of inline CRTs.