Craigslist Zenith Score! - Page 2 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

fsjonsey · #16 06-30-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Guncolor

From looking at your pictures that set never had space command. Sorry.

If so, what was the original purpose of the extra tuner and bracket on the top of the cabinet which it was mounted to? Was it just a different type of manual VHF tuner that failed and was replaced with a similar one?

3Guncolor · #17 07-01-2011, 01:31 AM

Several things, Zenith used power tuning on their remote sets back then so there would not be anyway to mount a VHF knob on the front of the set. They also didn’t use a motor drive on the volume control it also most likely would be behind a door with the VHF fine tuning. That tuner does not appear to have ever been setup for power tuning. Even if it was just missing the motor. There are other ways to tell as well.

fsjonsey · #18 07-01-2011, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Guncolor

Several things, Zenith used power tuning on their remote sets back then so there would not be anyway to mount a VHF knob on the front of the set. They also didn’t use a motor drive on the volume control it also most likely would be behind a door with the VHF fine tuning. That tuner does not appear to have ever been setup for power tuning. Even if it was just missing the motor. There are other ways to tell as well.

Thanks for the information. I saw the gears and got all excited. The extra tuner will remain a mystery I guess. I'd like to get it working again, as it had lighted channel numbers that appeared from behind the smoked plastic control panel faceplate. At some point a tech must have pulled the original tuner out and installed a new one with a standard knob.

***Kamakiri*** · #19 07-01-2011, 08:03 AM

Ahhh....so YOU were the one

.

I was planning on traveling from Buffalo to snag it, but you walked in with double my offer. Hey, I'm just glad that a VK member got it

Great set!

fsjonsey · #20 07-01-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

Ahhh....so YOU were the one

.

I was planning on traveling from Buffalo to snag it, but you walked in with double my offer. Hey, I'm just glad that a VK member got it

Great set!

Sorry about that. I haven't seen a tube color set on Cleveland craigslist in over a year, and the last one i tried picking up, the seller ended up flaking on me. I jumped on this one when I got the chance.

fsjonsey · #21 07-02-2011, 12:22 AM

Well, I feel like an idiot. This set was meant to use a 3A3 HV Rectifier. If I would have looked more closely at the cabinet tag in the first place I would have figured that out about two days earlier. When I opened the HV cage the other day, a 3dj3 was what I found, so that's the tube I replaced it with. That explains why every 3dj3 I put in ended up glowing blue in a few hours, or less. I've had the 3A3 running in the set for close to six hours. So far no problems.

By the Way, this set uses a 23XC38Z chassis.

fsjonsey · #22 07-05-2011, 09:59 PM

The list of subbed tubes keeps on growing. A 6LB6 had been subbed for the 6JS6 HOT, a 6HV5 for the 6HS5 HV REG, and the aforementioned HV rectifier. Since I swapped out the tubes with correct replacements, I've had no problems.

DaveWM · #23 07-05-2011, 10:20 PM

I may be wrong about this but some zeniths provided for a HOT swap with a jumper change. there should be a tag on the jumper block with which connection to make on those two tubes. IIRC it changes the source and voltage of the screen on the HOT.

fsjonsey · #24 07-06-2011, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveWM

I may be wrong about this but some zeniths provided for a HOT swap with a jumper change. there should be a tag on the jumper block with which connection to make on those two tubes. IIRC it changes the source and voltage of the screen on the HOT.

The only jumper located anywhere near the HOT is for increasing horizontal width. In any case, I tested the 6LB6 I pulled from the set and it was really weak. Set played beautifully tonight with the 6JS6C installed. I just ordered an HV probe. I figured I'll need one now that I own a set like this. Also, does anyone have any service data for a 23XC38Z chassis? It'd be nice to have it just in case.

Also, 6-19-66 is stamped on the HV cage. Would this be a production date code for the Chassis?

kc8adu · #25 07-06-2011, 02:57 AM

some of those subs are ok.many of the 12 pin sweep tubes will sub no problem.the reg and damper in many zeniths must be a pair specified on the layout.iirc its about the warmup time.making sure the reg is ready before the damper warms up.

fsjonsey · #26 07-08-2011, 12:38 AM

The set is now working really well, a weak 12HL7 video amp and three weak 6KT8's later. This set appears to have a lot of original tubes.

fsjonsey · #27 07-12-2011, 06:58 PM

The Tuner and IF tubes were also original, and really weak. Replacing those took care of smearing when white text appeared on screen.

wb2mep · #28 12-17-2011, 06:44 AM

The reason for the specific regulator/damper pairings in the Zenith
color sets was that the two tubes heaters are wired in series. Probably a safety feature to keep the HV from coming up if the reg. was pulled.
The heater currents have to be matched in a series connection or one tube will light up real bright and the other hardly at all. The two pairings are equivalent tubes with different heater current ratings.