Huge RCA find plus some questions

[Chad Hauris]

Over the past couple of weeks I have got a large amount of RCA's from a closed electronic shop that has been storing them since the early 70's. I'll get some pictures up soon. They include:

1 CTC-15 large console w/dual speakers
3 CTC-16's, 1 large console w/dual spkers., 1 metal consolette, 1
medium size console
1 CTC-20? (it is a round tube set with a chassis like CTC-31)
3 CTC-31's, 1 remote 22" table model, 1 non-remote 22" table
model, 1 23" console
2 CTC-38's, 1 22" table, 1 23" console
1 CTC-42, 17" portable
3 CTC-53's, 2 have illuminated channel numbers
1 CTC-38 chassis only
1 22JP22 new in box CRT

There is still another 16 buried in a bunch of junk that I'll go back for.

Now some questions---some of these sets have burned flybacks, it looks like it was from arcing. Has anyone found out how the arcing started...and on the sets that still have good flybacks, is there anything I can maybe coat them with to help protect them?

Also has anyone ordered new flybacks for these sets from Moyer Electronics? I haven't been able to find any info. on flybacks on their web site.

[jstout66]

Chad, Great finds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's my opinions on the flybacks (for what it's worth). In the late 70's and early 80's when I worked for my Uncle in his repair shop, RCA Flyback jobs kept us very busy. It seemed like they lasted about 8-10 years. It was also something that seemed to keep us busy in the summer. It is well known that RCA flybacks used a terrible wax coating on their flybacks. They never changed their design either. So you had that crappy flyback to deal with thru the CTC-40. I noticed on those housecall jobs that a majority of those sets were in homes with NO air-conditioning. So it would appear that the heat and humidity did them in. So..... on the sets you have with good flybacks you should be fine if you run them in an airconditioned environment. I wouldn't think you'll be using any as daily watchers like these sets were (15+ hours a day was not uncommon) so you should still be able to get plenty of life out of your working sets. As for getting replacement flybacks, I would get what you can NOW from Moyers. People seem to know about them now and have been buying them up. I just call them up on the 800# (1-800-577-6001) and have delt with Bill Moyer in the past. It helps if you have the RCA part number or the Thordarson number. If you have any of those part numbers available, you can pm me as well, as I have a source in Iowa that I can get parts from. When my Uncle did the "flyback jobs" he would replace with a Thordarson flyback and would replace the 5 tubes. When a flyback burns up it usually takes out the 6JE6, 6DW4, and 6BK4. He would also change the 3A3 and the 2AV2 as well. Back then it usually ran about $149.00 total. As for re-coating a flyback.... that I'm not sure of. We would never consider that "back in the day" due to safety reasons and also replacement parts were readily available. Anyway... good luck with your sets and feel free to contact me if you need help in finding any parts.

[Chad Hauris]

Jstout66 thanks so much for your insight. It seems as though there are only 2 types of flybacks on these sets (the portables may use a different type...have never had flyback trouble with them):

Type 1 is the type used in the CTC-15 where you connect a seperate lead to the 3A3, and a selenium rectifier is used for the focus,

Type 2 is the type used in the CTC-16, 31, 38 where the 3A3 inserts into the top of the flyback directly. It looks like among these 3 chassis, the flybacks are identical.

I have some CTC-38 parts sets/chassis with apparently good flybacks so I wonder if I can retrofit those into the '31 and the '16.
Also if I can order some I wonder if I could just order one type for all of these types of sets where the 3A3 inserts into the top.

I've got the RCA field service guides so those should have the part numbers for the flybacks, I'll try giving Moyers a call.

[jstout66]

Chad, I don't think the flybacks should be too hard to get. The last one I got from Moyers was for a CTC-16 and ran about $35.00. I think they only carry the RCA ones which should be fine, but if you can get Thordarson, even BETTER!!!!! They used a much improved rubber coating. The RCA's used a wax material and when they aged and got hot, they would melt causing them to burn up. I kind of think RCA was thinking of "planned obsolesence" when they designed that flyback. The aftermarket replacements improved upon their flawed design. As for getting one type of flyback, I'm not sure......, but I don't think so. Rca must have changed them a bit as the part numbers aren't the same between most chassis even tho they look identical. My Uncle was a fanatic about having them be right tho. In the small town where I am from there was a repair shop that just did AWFUL rigged repairs. We would get some sets in for repair that the flybacks weren't even mounted in correctly. In the mid 70's there was a family who's tv started on fire and burned the house down and my Uncle always thought it was from one of those "rigged" flyback repairs. It's probably not wise to modify anything like that when you are dealing with high-voltage. That's just my opinion tho, and maybe some others have had success. Look in SAMS for the part numbers and check in with Moyers. If you can get me part numbers I will help you as well. I have an old sams for a CTC-17X chassis and the flyback is part number 115876. Maybe you can see if that part number is used in other chassis as well, but I have found that not to be the case. You've got some really nice sets and am hoping you will get them up and running in no time. Moyers does have quite the stock!!!!!! I do know they are out of the ones for the CTC-31 I was trying to get a spare for the one Doug bought from me and they were out, but am sure they will have some for other chassis! My parts-source has many Thordarsons which will be a FLY- #. If you can get those numbers I will help in any way I can.

[andy]

Has anyone considered installing a small fan to blow air through the HV cage?

[Eric H]

I have a ctc-7 that had a hole burned in the rubber cover (see pic).
I cut the cover off and recoated it with several layers of low acid Silicone.
It hasn't been run much, a few hours maybe, but so far no problems.

I have a used Fly for a ctc-5 if anyone needs it. There is a burned control pot on it but the tire looks OK other than some wax that has oozed out.

Eric

[Eric H]

eBay


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...100548219&rd=1

[drh4683]

chad, sounds like you got found some really nice sets! The ctc31 I bought from james is in good shape but I wanted a replacement fly for a back up. Like james said, he called moyer and they were out. I had problems with the fly on my ctc31 console and I called moyer on that and he said flys for the ctc31 are long gone and he wish he had tons more. I guess he had many requests for that fly from what he told me over the phone. I was fortunate enough to get one from Doug E here on AK.
I too have never had problems with the flybacks on the portables. They hold up better, probably because of the pulse regulator system which actually controls the flyback voltages as opposed to the shunt regulator that functions off anode voltage, thus having no effect on the flyback.

About finding the arcing, do you know where the arcing came from? Make sure you have the larger 3A3, not sure which letter but I think the 3A3 is slightly shorter than a 3A3C and the tube does not seat on the top of the fly when the box is shut. This results in arcing. Not sure if this is your problem but Ive had it happen to me on a couple sets in the past.

Look forward to seeing your pics.