Looking for a Zenith Service Manual - Anybody? Bueller? ... Bueller?

[ZenithDude]

Hey gang,

Looking for a Zenith Service Manual for a 1981 Zenith System III model SS2329P.

No Luck so far on the Googles, Ebay, or any of the free or paid archive sites like SAMS tech pubs, etc.

SAMS had ONE for a Zenith model "SH2329", but wrong year and system television. I guess Zenith used the same model numbers but changed the letters according to year made?

Based on my research, it's looking like this would be part of the CM-133 series of manuals (??)

Any of you guys have a copy or a scan you could send me? I'm knee deep in restoring my console set.

Figured it was worth a shot asking here.

[Electronic M]

They did change model and chassis numbers year code letters annually. Some chassis that went through multiple years of production kept their introduction year letter and got a Z at the end of the chassis number to indicate a multi-year chassis.

It's probably a 2 board 9-151? or a single board 9-160 system 3. Zenith typically wanted you to exchange boards and IIRC service literature of what is in the modules is often sparse... Zenith also would introduce backwards compatible improved modules as the boards saw multiple years of production in new sets so if anyone ever changed the board to a newer rev there's no guarantee the schematic would match. I believe Zenith dropped chassis numbers with the start of system 3. Since there was no longer a chassis, just boards. If you can find service literature for a another set that uses the same main boards you can probably troubleshoot off of it. The system 3s were usually all the same inside if they used the same main boards. Typically the only things that would change between models of system 3 with a given main board would be CRT size, tuner and remote modules, and possibly stereo sound provisions later on.

I typically don't touch fully solid state sets. As a big fan of Zenith products I make exceptions to the don't touch fully SS rule for the Zenith Chromacolor II Deltagun sets that came before these... And I probably should at some point in the future make an exception for a system 3 space phone set to go with my Zenith space phone dealer demonstration red rotary phone. I used to have a couple of 9-160 sets but let them go since they were outside my collection goals and I'm always low on space.

[ZenithDude]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

They did change model and chassis numbers year code letters annually. Some chassis that went through multiple years of production kept their introduction year letter and got a Z at the end of the chassis number to indicate a multi-year chassis.

It's probably a 2 board 9-151? or a single board 9-160 system 3. Zenith typically wanted you to exchange boards and IIRC service literature of what is in the modules is often sparse... Zenith also would introduce backwards compatible improved modules as the boards saw multiple years of production in new sets so if anyone ever changed the board to a newer rev there's no guarantee the schematic would match. I believe Zenith dropped chassis numbers with the start of system 3. Since there was no longer a chassis, just boards. If you can find service literature for a another set that uses the same main boards you can probably troubleshoot off of it. The system 3s were usually all the same inside if they used the same main boards. Typically the only things that would change between models of system 3 with a given main board would be CRT size, tuner and remote modules, and possibly stereo sound provisions later on.

I typically don't touch fully solid state sets. As a big fan of Zenith products I make exceptions to the don't touch fully SS rule for the Zenith Chromacolor II Deltagun sets that came before these... And I probably should at some point in the future make an exception for a system 3 space phone set to go with my Zenith space phone dealer demonstration red rotary phone. I used to have a couple of 9-160 sets but let them go since they were outside my collection goals and I'm always low on space.

Hey Tom, yeah, I have a 1981 Zenith SS2329P (System 3) with the 9-160-05 board stock. I've gotten all the boards (Refurbished) needed to re do the entire inside of the modular set, including 2 Refurbished 9-160-05's (in case 1 of them is DOA) - I've read a lot of the 05's had issues even Refurbished. I just have no way of knowing how to ADJUST everything once installed. The physical connections themselves are pretty much self explanatory - since they're all plug and play. Once again, I'm just lost as to how to "calibrate" the set once everything is installed, and/or know where to begin troubleshooting in case I end up with problems related to certain boards. I've got a pretty good grasp on the 9-160 boards, their issues, trouble spots, etc now though thanks to a lotta help from all over the place, so I should be OK there. I'll also be sure to discharge the anode on the un plugged set before getting in there. If you know anyone with possible access to the Service Manual I'm seeking, I'm happy to pay for one.

[ZenithDude]

I finally figured it out. They didn't go by model number after System III. I was "digging in the wrong place." You were right about "Chassis Numbers" vs. manual reference being obsoleted since it was all modular through that run with revs to the boards. I just needed to pickup an "M Series" Zenith Service Manual - (M for "Modular") and make sure it was dated either late 1981 or 1982. My set is August 1981. I found a 1982 version. I ALSO found a binder from an old Zenith Service tech that holds every Zenith service bulletin from 1968 through 1982 - and which should help me in case I run into any compatibility or tricky calibration issues after repair, replacements and refurbishment. I'm hoping these last 2 pieces of the puzzle lend a solid education on System III.