RCA Victor 6T74 Finally Finnished!

[Bill Cahill]

And, here is the moment we've all been waiting for!
Except for minor adjustments, the set is finally finnished, and, working great!
Final things needed:
5U4 rect. New old stock tube wasn't putting out enough B+.
6BG6 Horizontal Output. New old stock GTE Sylvania wasn't filling out picture.
Many adjustments later, here are the end results.
Sorry. Still haven't figured out how to shut off flash on camera.










Bill Cahill :!:

[David Roper]

Great, now show us the shots from 'after'.

[wa2ise]

That looks quite good.

[jeyurkon]

I thought I sensed a disturbance in the force!

Congratulations! Now you can sit back and enjoy it!

John

[Bill Cahill]

Something seems to happen to these mechanical focus assemblies, and, the adjustment freezes.
They may be made of pot metal, or, aluminum. Not sure which.
The one on set now is not adjusting well.
I found another, and, it's in much better shape, so, I'll eventually install that, and, hopefully get focus a little sharper.
Other than that, set is crittical on line voltage, but, no great surprise there.
Works best at 120 volts ac.
Set isn't perfect, and, I want to do minor tweaking, some of it with another pair of better seeing eyes.
As a whole, though, I'm very happy with the way it has come out....

This set has come through alot in it's existence.
I'm just very happy that it's fixed....
Bill Cahill

[RitchieMars]

Hey Bill, that looks great! Knowing all the work and patience you've put into this set, it's pretty reassuring knowing that even some of the most challenging problems can be overcome. I would be just as determined to see my Zenith glow like that!

Enough of those capacitors, tubes, and wires, already! McHale's Navy's coming on!

[Sandy G]

Wow....+/- 60 years old, I doubt if it was really designed to last that long...

[jr_tech]

GREAT! it is always nice to see one of these sets that are remembered from childhood going again!

Originally Posted by Bill Cahill

Something seems to happen to these mechanical focus assemblies, and, the adjustment freezes.
They may be made of pot metal, or, aluminum. Not sure which.
The one on set now is not adjusting well.

On one of my early Philcos, I was able to "free up" a stuck focus assembly and apply a light coating of grease to the moving surfaces... operates smooth as a babys' bottom now.
jr

[Bill Cahill]

Thanks, guys. Your comments are much appreciated!
With all the insults, and, barbs going 'round both here, and, lately at VK from ARF members, I was beginning to have my doubts that it was worth it.
My goal has always been to assist others in the pittfalls of antique tv's, and, how to service them. I just never expected it to get anywhere NEAR that bad! :shock: :!:

To be honest with you, set still has some bugs, but, mostly, it's adjustments.
I do have a bit of a problem, yet, with vertical height shrinkage as it warms up, but, I see no reason to go into that alot. When I find the problem, I'll keep you posted on it.
I may take more pics after I finnish initial adjustments, but, as far as I'm concerned, the set is otherwise finnished.
It's been otherwise playing reliably.
I may make a list of the parts installed in set, and, keep a copy in the cabinet.
Admittedly, if I had known this set was this bad, I don't know what I would have done.....
This set was obviously defective from the get go, barely kept running with numerous break downs over the years, and, was used into the ground.
What dammaged volume, and, tone controls?
Easy...
There is a tone capacitor going from the plate of the 6AV6to the tone contro, which is also connected to the volume control through resistors to two taps. When that cap shorted, it put B+ on tone control, which in turn, put voltage on volume control.
Fried 'em both.
I replaced them early on, but, other tone control was also bad, and, UPS wrecked vol control two years ago.
I'm on my third set, and, they are good.
Well, thanks for your support. I couldn't have done it without you....
Bill Cahill

[Bill Cahill]

Here are more pics I took with a different camera...






Bill Cahill :!:

[jeyurkon]

Bill, the different camera really helps us see it better. Looking good!

[Tubejunke]

That looks super Bill! I wonder if the wooden crt mask from a set like yours would fit in my 8-T-243 with the rectangular mask. It just looks so much cooler to me, but I guess it would hurt the value of the set. I wish I had the money to go back to work on re-capping the set. First I have to get more sound out of my TC-127, which is my pride and joy. I miss watching it.

[Bill Cahill]

My mask isn't wooden. It's plastic. And, quite a bit larger than yours. It's a 16" set.
And, yes, it would ruine the value of your set.
Bill Cahill

[bandersen]

Nice job, Bill Glad to see it up and running

[batterymaker]

I was just stunned by the amount of problems that TV had.

But you have the tenacity of a bulldog, and it looks as though you have finally smote it!

Congratulations.