RCA colortrak 2000 with multiple problems.

[pentium]

For christmas I wanted to give my parents what they have needed for years...a better tv. I have an old (89) RCA clolrtrak 2000 tv that would fit the bill with hi-fi, s-video, SCART (in north america?!) and dual antenna inputs.
I lug it out and plug it in and immediately I get problems.

It begins to turn on and off for a few minuets and after it finally warms up enough to get static I toggle over to a channel I know has picture. My second problem became visible. If the unit needs to display something other than static it just turns itself on and off forever. When I establish a picture at any level, The pincushion is nuts and there is no response fron the rear controls.
I suspect a bad set of caps (dry?) in the HV section. I have the service info stickers from the inside of the case next to me so I know what all the components are and I see many test points.
Where should i start?

[pentium]

Re: RCA colortrak 2000 with multiple problems.

I can't find my HV probe but I might be able to assume the cutoff is being caused by not enough power getting around.

[Topcat]

Re: RCA colortrak 2000 with multiple problems.

I would start with a set of schematics for it, those will tell you what you should be reading on the test points. Pincushion issues tend to be in the horizontal circuitry or a power supply problem, and its very possible its a bad cap(s) or a leaky diode/transistor.

[pentium]

Re: RCA colortrak 2000 with multiple problems.

I looked up some schematics and the first likely spot of problems was a set of rectifiers. resoldering the board fixed that. I spotted some copper sopts on the main board too (arcs). repositioning and trimming fixed those. There was even a few places where the solder had actually heated up so much it began to turn to slag and burn the board! Some fresh solder fixed that.
I tested the set after all this and she holds a steady picture.
Now I gotta fix the pincushion and find a way to exceed the user-settable contrast controls. I can do it with CRT monitors, I must be able to do it to tv's.

[kc8adu]

Re: RCA colortrak 2000 with multiple problems.

if you want a lasting fix on a ctc140 you need to pull the diode sip and pull each diode.
scrape the leads well. the plating tends to seperate and simply resoldering is temporary at best.
iirc there is a blue box cap that causes pincushion and a tiny lytic that causes low contrast if the crt is good(most are)

[pentium]

Re: RCA colortrak 2000 with multiple problems.

I'll wait and see how long my temporary fix holds. It's running fine right now and thus It aint' broke in my opinion.

iirc there is a blue box cap that causes pincushion and a tiny lytic that causes low contrast if the crt is good(most are)

Could you translate that into a more simple language?