Commodore 1701 Video Monitor | CRT Repair for My Life In Gaming *The C64 & VIC20 Display!

In this episode I highlight a rare Commodore Video Monitor Model 1701 CRT. This Monitor belongs to my good friend Try from ‪@mylifeingaming‬ . I will tear the CRT down, clean it and perform some repairs to a broken bezel and screen mount using epoxy. This CRT was designed to be used with every Commodore Computer in the early 1980's including the VIC 20 and Commodore 64 home computers.
#RetroTech #MLiG #c64
For more information on repairs, diagnostics and to connect with me, please visit: / retrotechusa

[@plaidigloo]

Thanks for the video. I have a 1702 monitor and made my own S-video cable for it. Retro games look great on these monitors.

[@RetroTechUSA]

Your welcome, S-video is a huge upgrade on this thing. It looks incredible for it's age.

[@tomlake2732]

Besides the four pots, you have the height coil (vertical copper-wound component quite visible to the right of center at time index 15:55) You adjust it by putting a non-metal vertical height tool (available at TV repair shops or on eBay) down the core (gently!) and twisting it. Don't try to use a metal tool! A metal tool will get too hot to hold in a matter of seconds.

[@haweater1555]

3:55. The 1701 and early production 1702s have a cavity above the rear connections. The legacy of this case using the same molding of a similar sized JVC portable TV. In the space snaps the "rabbit ears" antenna assembly, though entirely superfluous for this application.

[@orkoto6057]

Rescued one of these in the curb years ago. Incredible display

[@jodben6063]

The production on these videos has gotten so good, keep up the great content

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

1983 - I was 15 and VIC-20 was my first computer. It was an awesome time.

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

That Commodore Video luma/chroma is so freaking cool

[@joelwrose]

Nice! I have the 1702 and played through some PS1 games on it last year. It was great seeing what’s inside!

[@emmettturner9452]

Since there are missing sections of the corner posts, I would suggest filling it with ABS Cement from the plumbing section at most hardware stores. Since it's just ABS dissolved in an ABS solvent, it will fill all the gaps with missing ABS and fuse to the existing ABS. I don't know how stable ABS Cement is over time so it may get brittle too but that should not matter when it will be solid ABS as opposed to the original with thin sheets of the stuff. I use it for repairing screw posts and such all the time.

[@RetroTechUSA]

Thanks for the great tip. I didn't think of that. I'll have to test that out on the next one.

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Awesome to see Commodore's CRT units on your channel Steve. I have the 1701 model in my collection since my parents purchased it in the 80's. It still works like a champ and a well made unit in my books bro. 8^) Anthony..

[@RetroTechUSA]

Thanks Anthony. These CRTs are really sweet.

[@t0nito]

You also have the horizontal width coil right next to the bigger black potentiometer

[@NiekkieNick]

Just recapped my Commodore 1701 monitor myself and working great! Great image quality with my C64! Next project will be my 1702 monitor.

[@bnice7]

Awesome! I've been waiting for you to start digging into the commodore monitors. I have the 1701, 1080, and a 1084S-P, which I just fixed the power button and did a full re-cap on. Nice work!

[@RetroTechUSA]

Very cool. After working on this one, I'm trying to find one of my own. They are fantastic.

[@bnice7]

@@RetroTechUSA For sure. The 1080 and 1084 series are quite a bit more versatile, having Composite, Chroma/Luma, ARGB and RGBI inputs but I love the classic look of the 1701 and 1702.

[@joeffreysmith5910]

@@bnice7 My 1080's brightness fluctuates with no apparent reason, shame I don't know how to fix it, it's my favorite monitor

[@bnice7]

@@joeffreysmith5910 my best guess would be some capacitors failing, either on the power supply board or the neck board.

[@joeffreysmith5910]

@@bnice7 This is what I was suspecting too -I should have trained in electronics instead of healthcare, then I could do something about it.

[@jd213_]

I remember seeing a Commodore monitor in the display cases at Toys R Us in the early 90's, not too long after seeing the article on Genesis RGB in Electronic Gaming Monthly. Wanted to get it, but of course it was too much for a kid at the time. I think it was $500 or so, not sure what model.

[@techtinker5089]

Awesome video! Just a warning about plugging sega controllers into commodore systems. The way the genesis controllers are wired can cause damage to commodore systems like the c64 and Amiga. There is adapters available that rectify this issue.

[@PapiFed]

I own a 1081 with RGB SCART input which I imagine is a little brother of this 1701, great little 14" !

[@fe90official]

Nice work!

[@raistlin7264]

Hello! Some month ago I got an "Sony Trinitron kv 29fc20e" for my arcde proyect. Somehow I managged to output video from my computer through scart, and finally play some games. But I realize that in the screen borders the red,green and blue separates, also that te picture is tilted and straight lines becomes curby in one edge. I have seen some of your videos solving this problems but do I need a remote controller? mine its universal and I can't access to the service menu. Should potentiometers for all this touch-ups be inside?

[@WDeranged]

What's the large metal drum shaped thing at 5:40?

[@Petertronic]

Adrian Black tried to repair a broken C64 case with JB weld, and the parts broke apart easily

[@RetroTechUSA]

There are many different types of JB weld. Maybe he didn't use the right one?

[@emmettturner9452]

That's why I suggest ABS Cement for repairs like this. It's literally ABS plastic dissolved in an ABS solvent so you can fill all the holes and make it more solid than it was from the factory.

[@Stephenm64]

@@RetroTechUSA Regular JB weld is actually not ideal for plastic unless the surface is pretty porous or roughed up, it will often snap off later due to flex or heat cycles. They actually recommend "plasticweld" for plastics. I have had much better luck with it keeping together my ford years ago when everything started falling apart.

[@emmettturner9452]

Thanks! Hope most of this applies to the 1702, since I'll be recapping mine soon... It gets jumpy with bright screens.

[@sajsabotage2043]

Mine is also jumpy. Does that mean it needs new caps?

[@emmettturner9452]

@@sajsabotage2043 I guess I'll know when I get done recapping it. :) I've heard that there was no international consumer standard for 75-ohm impedance composite or S-Video back when this monitor was made so it's possible that consoles designed for composite video are just too "hot" for a 1702... or maybe not hot enough. I dunno how that works. ;)

[@emmettturner9452]

@@sajsabotage2043 I'll try to remember to update this thread once I try it.

[@joeffreysmith5910]

@@emmettturner9452 I've read luma on commodore's version of s video is ''hotter'' than the more modern standard

[@djmips]

Bump. :)

[@MattiasTolshagen-d6o]

Any mouser link for capacitor kit for this monitor? :)

[@tomlake2732]

Does anyone make 3D prints of the flip down door that covers the controls? Most 1702s I see are missing that door.

[@retractingblinds]

Wasn't there a 15khz commodore monitor with RGB? I swear I remember some people from the crt collective talking about it years ago. Also the last 1701 I worked on was full of dead grass and acorns...I have no idea where it could have been stored.

[@FinalBaton]

it's some variants of the 1084.

[@PapiFed]

That is the 1081

[@tv4184]

I saw one of these locally. Wasn’t sure if it was worth picking up. Do u do house calls lol...I got a couple crts that can use some recaps

[@ROX99]

Hi steve , I have a sony pvm 1450qm , and the problem there’s no colors when I uses composite only just black and white (line a & line b & line c) but when I use rgb the colors is correct and nice , so where’s the problem exactly?

[@push_start_button_6008]

Does the 1701 model also have such knobs to adjust the image?

[@JamalTheTitan]

What is the audio splitter deal you have going on in the back?

[@danem2215]

My 1702 has an image off by about 3°. Is there a potentiometer to level the image, or how would I go about doing that?

[@ChrisR3tro]

Holy shit you got a haircut. Looks great!

[@tremorist]

I would have laid out glas fibre mat around the posts.

[@Demokirby]

Would have been great if svideo stuck to the Commdore two RCA style. instead annoying connector we got. (pain to have to get one connected reaching around a TV setup) Definitely would make running through my extron switch more simple with out specialty Y-splitters.

[@kragle88]

I have one of these but unfortunately its not been turned on for about 20 years since the tube blew... would need a professional to repair it but I remember these being super sharp playing on the Amiga and Megadrive! Can't really replicate it with modern 4:3 screens its a shame

[@push_start_button_6008]

You know difference about 1702 and 1701 models?

[@cpaek72]

I have a question. Are there any adjustment yokes for rotation? Just picked up one of these monitors and noticed my picture seems to be tilted slightly to the right. Thanks for the video. It was very informative.

[@RetroTechUSA]

Most yokes work exactly the same and can cause tilt. Here's an older video I have explaining more and how to adjust it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2OseX2cq6lgbZI

[@dinbabwa452]

I have a PVM that is having some trouble rendering colours accurately

[@LucoLuchi]

is multistandard?

[@OrderoftheWarlocks]

I know this has been said, but it needs to be said more. Please DON'T plug Sega genesis controllers into the c64

[@RetroTechUSA]

Thanks but this one is a VIC 20 so it doesn't seem to have the same problems as the c64

[@OrderoftheWarlocks]

@@RetroTechUSA I was stating more for your viewers, but vic20 has same input pinout. There isn't as much out there on people having issues, but I still wouldn't chance it, atleast not without an adapter between it and the computer. Just my two cents

[@raccoon681]

i was kind of hoping he would tackle that video select switch at the back. there a very common problem with audio going out and i can't seem to find a replacement switch small enough.

[@RetroTechUSA]

Sorry, I wasn't aware of that problem. This was the first time I got to work on one of these and it only had the broken bezel issue. Do you mean your toggle switch on the back is broken? Or is the audio out?

[@raccoon681]

the switch gets cabon build up on the inside and can be fixed with a fiberglass brush. if you take it apart (not easy) it messes with the video but mostly the audio when this happens

[@raccoon681]

sorry i mean the toggle switch at the back

[@J.E.Romero]

How much would you charge for the 1702 repair?

[@RetroTechUSA]

This was about $70

[@jeffry5800]

While i love vids like these. It creates a huge problem. Want lists grow and hoarders drive up market prices. Era of good flea market, garages sales have come to an end. Sad....

[@davidegalliussi1979]

Please if you try to mod for rgb input 🤩

[@marz_mitzi]

i have a 1702!! EU spec~

[@Demokirby]

I would consider adding Plastic JB weld Plastic epoxy putty into your arsenal if you already haven't since you can use it to fill in mixing plastic sections that may have chunks missing in conjunction to the liquid adhesive. www.jbweld.com/product/plasticweld-epoxy-putty

[@azariayehezkel9064]

you discharge lot of crt why you don't buy a professiona dischargel crt tool?

[@azariayehezkel9064]

its better safety

[@timbryant3939]

We o

[@ReturnofBojangles-zt4vo]

I am tired of your Patreon being used to push over priced eBay monitors that anyone with a clue could setup notifications for. This is not valuable information it is late and of no use. All it does is drum up the price by advertising monitors that are already overpriced to begin with. You advertise private sales yet there is no such thing. You are a scam artist and a phoney. Stop tricking people into overpriced Patreon memberships for worthless information and admit you are an e beggar. Get a real job and stop mooching off your subs this channel is the worst thing to happen to professional monitors. Your videos are uninformative you are not an expert do not compare yourself to a trained professional like Savon Pat it’s totally insulting to do so. It’s like reading the Wall Street Journal and calling yourself a contemporary of Alan Greenspan. Do yourself a favor and don’t join this mans Patreon or give him a dime.