At long last, a Chromacolor II!

[radiotvnut]

On your focus issue: I've seen this problem before. Usually, the control has to be rotated all the way to one end to get the best focus and it's still not a sharp as it could be. IIRC, the only components in the focus circuit are the HV tripler, the focus control itself, and the CRT socket. Either one of the three could be causing he issue. I've seen corrosion around the focus pin of the CRT socket. If there is no corrosion and there is continuity between the focus pin of the CRT socket and the focus pin of the tripler, the socket is OK. Also, check the focus pot for proper operation and make sure it's solder connections are OK. If that's not the trouble, you have a bad tripler. The tripler will run you $20-$30 and you'll have to look to find a new one as I don't think they are made any longer.

Concerning the popping you hear, check what everyone else said and also look at the HV lead that comes out of the flyback and goes into the tripler. From the factory, the input terminal of the tripler had a blob of RTV on it to prevent the HV from leaking. If the tripler has been replaced or if a technician removed the lead for any reason, he may not have used RTV to reinsulate the terminal. In most cases, it doesn't present a problem; but, it can hiss and pop during humid conditions.

On discharging the HV. Get a large value resistor, say 100K ohms and connect one end of the resistor to the CRT dag ground via clip lead. Connect the other end of the resistor to a screwdriver. Hold on to the insulated part of the screwdriver and slide the blade under the anode cup. It might spark a little; but, you won't get shocked as long as you hold the insulated part of the screwdriver. You can do the same thing without the resistor, but the discharge will be more "active"