Don't be surprised if you end up needing to replace the resistors in the focus string, mine wouldn't focus even with the pot all the way to one side because they were drifted so far off tolerence.

Thanks for the tip. I'll start checking them next.

Doug

You can darn near count on them having drifted way high. When they are replaced, you should be able to almost center the focus pot for best results!

The new ballast came Sat and the CRT gasket came today. When I powered itm up after it sitting for several days, both the horizonal and vertical were unstable. I think I have the vertical fixed (bad resistor), and am in the process of replacing the mica caps in the horizontal section to see if thst helps. If not, I'll start on the horix resistors next.

Doug

Finally most of my parts came in today, so I hope to have something to report this weekend. On my last post, I was haing sync trouble in both vert and horiz sections. I fixed the vert (bad resistor), and went ahead and ordered new vert hold & size controls, They came today.
In the companion thread (the 1 about the butterscotch knobs) I posted that I had unknowingly used disc caps in replacing the HV .001s. The new, correct ones came today as well as new resistors for the horiz section. I hope all this clears up my sync problem.

Doug

Now I need some advice. I've got the resistors replaced in both the vertical and horizontal circuts. I've got perfect vertical now, but I still have poor horiz sync. On the bench I use an old VCR which plays thru Ch 4. Once before I was restoring a metal cabinet Admiral and had a similar problem. When I hooked the Admiral upto cable, it cleared up. I moved the Motorola into the den and hooked it upto cable which comes thru on CH 3. My VT-73 has Ch 2 & 3 in the same position. At 1st I couldn't get anything but snow. My Sams shows the slugs for Ch 3 as A9, A 17, A 18. I finally got it adjusted enough to get a snowy pic. I next tried my VCR/DVD in the den on Ch 4. Still has poor horiz sync, so I know the hoiz problem is not in my test VCR. Any ideas on what to check next? Also, the horiz hold control is a 10K. Upon checking it with my meter, it registars about 8.5K.

Doug

A VCR is a very poor source for an old TV, the signal isn't very stable.
A DVD player fed through an R.F. modulator is much better.
I wouldn't assume anything wrong with the set until you get rid of the VCR.

Eric, Thanks for the tip. I've now got it hooked up thru my DVD player coming thru Ch 4 and am getting a pretty stable pic. I've had to retouch the horiz hold about twice in 20 min. Also I found out that I had the splitter going to the wrong two terminals on the set. I was using the middle and bottom. When I moved it to the top& bottom it made a huge difference. I'f fixing to try the cable on Ch 3 again and see how good that is.

From now on, I'll remember that about using a VCR. I can still use a VCR for the basic repairs when restoring a dead set, but I know now to switch to cable or DVD as the restoration advances.

Doug

Update: The set is playing fine thru the DVD on Ch 4. On CH 3, I can get a good pic now but can't get the sound and pic to be in sync. Best pic means distorted sound and vise versa. Any ideas?

Doug

Well I think I've got the set playing as well as it's going to. I am waiting on some resistors for the focus string before starting reassembly. Right now I am turning to the cosmetic aspects of the cabinet which is very dirty. I just got the top cleaned with a combo of BarKeepers Friend, Comet, and elbow grease. The top almost looks brand new. I'm posting a pic of the clean top but have not cleaned the lid yet. Luckly this set was stored with the lid closed, and the front plate is in great shape. The antenna & metal back are missing, but I've heard that's common in these sets. My handle, however, is in bad shape. I thought I had found a generic replacement on Ebay, but after measuring, it was too small. I'll keep looking.

Doug

Looks good and please keep it coming. It will encourage me to work on my VT-71 sets soon.

Finally fin nished it today. My focus resistors arrived, and I was ready for reassembly. Here are 2 pics of the completed project. Thanks for all the help.
Doug