Troubleshooting the 1973 Zenith 25DC56 Color Television Chassis

[@bigalsmallengines]

Can't beat those old Zenith televisions. Great quality and picture.

[@davidtillwach5542]

9 years later and many times I've watched your videos on KZbin I still enjoy them . I like the older tube televisions like Zenith and RCA . when America made there own stuff in televisions and Appliances . Long gone is that . Maybe for the love of God we will have a new comapny in America make new tube televisions again in flat panels tubes on the back of the sets

[@makeminefreedom]

I have always loved television. When I was young my mother bought our first Sears brand Zenith color console TV. I remember the day when it suddenly shutdown. My mother called the Sears repairman. He carried in his toolbox and pulled out his voltmeter. Within a few minutes he removed and replaced a bad power supply capacitor. It was like magic to me and I decided that day I wanted to be a TV repairman. Years later when I joined the Army I told them I wanted to be a radio and TV repairman. They sent me to signal school and I finally achieved my dream. I don't repair radio or TVs for a living today but I still enjoy watching others resurrect pieces from the past. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@duanethamm4688]

I really enjoyed watching that Doug. You make for a great teacher. You keep it interesting and explain everything perfectly. Hope to see you soon.

[@Ode2Pops]

Excellent video, Doug! Your videos always take me back to my youth. While the other kids were playing sports, I was busy building crystal sets and Heathkits! Thank you for sharing.

[@frantic1971]

I love watching your great troubleshooting technique. Also great to have that clip from All in the Family running at the end.

[@douglashoff95]

This brings me back to the days I worked for our local Zenith dealer and had the pleasure of attending the Zenith service seminars conducted by Ray Gillette. One of the main problems was the need for the critical safety capacitor. The white ones (C265, 267, 268 & 269) which you found as shorted were an issue. One needed to install the 800-860 capacitor kit. When the capacitors failed the high voltage would go so high that it would blow the neck right off of the CRT.

[@davidjames666]

A bad paper cap? I am not surprised. I actually looked at that cap as soon as you showed the board. I said to myself "There is the problem" and it turned out it was!!! Glad you later mentioned you were going to change them all out

[@clemsonbloke]

Hope you keep making videos about your TV's. This may sound stupid but your videos lower my blood pressure. I can watch them and I feel so much better afterwards, they take you back to another time. Please keep up the good work that you do. Would love to see a new video about your TV shop and maybe hear your thoughts about what you think is the best TV to buy today in our modern world. I'm sure some are better than others and that some of the new ones are pure junk. Thanks.

[@cny02253]

What a great find. Zenith always put a lot of work and thought into how they built their sets. I will add my voice to those that are so happy so see you posting a video again! Excellent as always!

[@hakemon]

That delay line was made on my birthday month and day. Just not year. That is awesome!

[@jenko701]

Thank you , you always take me down memory lane.

[@LaurenceMacNeill]

Man, this set brings back memories... When I was a kid we had a 1964 25" Zenith console set in our rec-room that my parents had bought when they first got married, and we had a 1972 19" Zenith table-set in the family room that they bought when they'd bought a new house in '72. Both of those TVs are long gone now, but this set really reminds me of those old sets. Great job of diagnosing and testing... I've never enjoyed working on TVs. High voltage always scares me. That, plus the X-rays coming off those old CRTs... Never liked working on older TVs at all...

[@LZN197]

It's always fun to watch a Master at his craft. In all fields of repair, you really get a sense of accomplishment as you chase down and repair a problem. As a semi-retired auto mechanic, I have seen many things. One of the best was a lady who said her car wouldn't start unless you got out of the car and turned the ignition key to the start position. If you sat IN the car, many times it would not start (crank over). The problem was a crack on a bus bar on the column mounted ignition switch. How could that be you ask? When you sit in the car, with a strong wrist, you are able to turn the ignition key with a lot of torque and the switch contacts would be in the troubled area. By getting out of the car and reaching OVER the steering column, your hand would be configured in a way that you could not twist the key as hard and the switch contacts would be in a good area and the car would start just fine. Keep up the good videos Mr. drl4683. We love them all. You are a special, one of a kind person.

[@juliancascio7345]

More video s,I would like to see! Zenith TVs were grate!!

[@davewm9589]

I have the Avanti with the same chassis. Also glad to see a new video from you. Nice fix on the set. Agree one of the best sets ever made.

[@hemiramdodge4410]

Excellent video, I had one of these sets back in the 70's, never had to be serviced and I had it for over 10 years...

[@jenko701]

Great video , I made my living fixing these things for over 30 years. One thing I always did was made a quick continuity check on horizontal output first. I not sure but it might but it might have put you closer, faster, but your systematic way always a sure bet .

[@ermyvids]

You have the most enjoyable videos on YOU TUBE. I am a follower of all your posts, and am remarkably like minded. 55 live in the quad cities. Thanks and keep posting!

[@Jallge]

Excellent TV set, I love Zeniths. Very nice and informative troubleshooting there, no need to replace every component to get it to work again.

[@johnmcmann7647]

Great video. Love your bench equipment. I wish I still had my Simpson 260

[@mercedes560sel]

You make it look to easy my friend . . you are really a master at this sort of thing. Impressive!

[@Papadishes]

Doug, Good to see you back working on the vintage TV's. Please keep them coming!! Dave

[@magrosi65]

Nice to see you back again, well done!

[@romarovinciguerra5387]

Good to see a new video from you Doug.

[@emorris272]

Have missed you posting. Nice video!

[@jefferyb304]

I like the sounds this set makes at startup. I'd love to find one of these sets. Seems like the oldest I find are 80's sets. There was a mid 70's Zenith similar in styling to this one in my great grandmas house. I wish I rescued it. Before KZbin, I had no clue how to service TV's.

[@ThejasonJaw5442]

Doug Your Amazing great Work... Please keep the awesome videos coming....

[@stephanmuller668]

Also, I've missed you. I enjoy every video of you Go on, please. Again and again, very interesting.

[@DirkGorgiel]

That's very interessting. In West-Germany introduction of color TV was in 1967 on the "IFA" in West-Berlin. PAL System. In East-Germany they intruduced color TV in 1969, when Berlin's TV tower was finished. SECAM System. Only the stationed US Army used NTSC in Europe. I grew up in Esat-Berlin

[@AntiqueRadioandTV]

As everyone one has said before me. It IS wonderful to hear from you again my friend! You have obviously so much knowledge under your belt, that you could contribute so much to this. and our "tight-knit" community. It will all be greatly appreciated my friend! Tom

[@zecflo]

Really nice to see you here on youtube again !!! Very cool and informative video ! With Kinds Regards Adryan Florentyn.

[@Sta2200]

THE BEST ..color tv chassis.. EVER Made in my opinion !! I like this chassis so much..I used the # ..as my main EMail addy !!

[@mercedes560sel]

I really missed your cool vids! Glad we have another!

[@thrillscience]

Thanks for sharing your awesome debugging and analysis skills.

[@tommybewick]

Great video Doug. I always learn a lot from your videos you have a great systematic way of fault finding . Thanks, Tom

[@Mr1966canuck]

Great video Doug.Love that Simpson 260 it looks mint.Keep up the great work.

[@butcharmstrong9645]

too bad you weren't in more of your videos. you're a very good looking man

[@larrycoen4888]

Great channel. Enjoy the vintage electronics myself.

[@kevincarlson2965]

Wonderful video - I sure miss seeing these videos Doug. I bet I speak for many when I say I would love to see more of these again. -Kevin

[@wkienz]

This was a great explanation. I followed along using the schematics for my 25EC58 chassis. There were a few parts deleted here and added there, but most was the same. Your guidance will come in handy soon because the breaker occasionally pops the first time I turn on the set after it being off for awhile.

[@steveomusicman6645]

Bravo Dr....I enjoyed this....

[@tectalabyss]

I hadn't seen a upload in a long time,so I checked and where youtube had changed everything ,I wasn't getting alerts you when you uploaded. Great trouble shooting. Thank you and I have some catching up to do.

[@vic20greg]

An absolutely wonderful walkthrough! The effort is appreciated!

[@ClagwellsGarage]

Excellent example of troubleshooting. Thanks for posting

[@matts78mn]

What a sweet ChromaColor! Thanks for bringing it back to life! :D

[@westy40]

Awesome to see you post a new vid!

[@KenmareVintageVehicles]

Very thorough, very detailed, and very well done. Another learning experience for me!

[@fxsuarezc1]

Excellent video! Nice Tektronix cart also! hehehe.

[@kg4yhr]

great job i want to work on the round color sets again after this

[@alphabeets]

Superb work! I hope to see more from you.

[@audubon5425]

Enjoyed it as always. Hope you're doing great.

[@alphabeets]

Beautiful work. Thanks again for the education.

[@sampson1959]

this is the finest set ever produced.love to have that metal cabinet set.i have an avante and i hate the cabinet.a metal cabinet flat chassis is a dream set to me

[@radiotvphononut]

Nice repair and that's one of the TV's that's on my "want list."

[@TheTarrMan]

Awesome! Glad to see a new video. Glad to see your trouble shooting presses too.

[@ianhand5006]

My parents bought their first colour TV in 1974. It was an 18" Sanyo TV which was an NTSC design, modified for the PAL 625 line UK standard. It had a tint control, which true PAL TVs didn't need. My grandparents had a Hitachi colour TV in the same year, and theirs had a tint control too.

[@s.sestric9929]

My family had the console version of this, and used it daily for over 20 years. The picture tube started to dim, and the repairman added some kind of booster box. Other than that it was trouble free.

[@eldontyrellcorp]

Very nice video. And beautiful set.

[@alexdelrio45]

Fantastic video!!!

[@ducklandwikeno]

Great video you have on television repair . You just gave some ideas on repairing my 40 crt tube inch Sony television . I may have it solved now but not sure after the set don't produce and trouble codes after I changed the problem chips mz3001D chips in the deflection circuit

[@RONWOLPA]

very well diagnosed , Zenith was quite a brand , after 40 years the components are still in good shape. If this does not prove quality , what would ?

[@juliancascio7345]

That's Right!! Great Doug!!

[@CKGM990]

Sweet in currently restoring a Zenith stereo console form 1973

[@SjoerdBeukers]

Great video! thank you.

[@jeromecabral7464]

Those zenith metal cabinet TV's were very heavy we had one when I was a kid but it was all solid state

[@justsumguy2u]

Those white caps you replaced are nothing more than paper caps in a fancier case....I'm not surprised they were bad. Smart move to replace all three.

[@robertdemaio5663]

great set sold many best focus

[@HDXFH]

awesome, great repair, The Excess EHT causes nasty X rays aswell!

[@douro20]

Yep...

[@robertdemaio5663]

made my living through college and tech school repairing these sets zenith was my favorite to repair. Sony was the worse could never get the horizontal deflection right they blew sg 613 . That zenith had dura module in it. only problem was a few of those white caps would short out.

[@MrModelaer]

Nice job thanks for sharing.

[@ltlieu61]

great video...i just watch in amazment.!

[@jerrycarriera8648]

Great video! I wonder if a flat screen Chinese made TV of today will be working 41 years from now?? The answer is a no- brainer!!

[@ldchappell1]

Jerry Carriera That 1973 25" Zenith table top set was probably $600 in 1973. In today's dollars, well over $3,000. There are a lot of crappy low end HD tvs on the market. I've seen generic brands like Dynex and Insignia crap out in less than a year. My parents bought a 50" LG 1080p set in 2005 and it's still works great. I bought a refurbished 32" Samsung 720p set in 2010 for $100 and it's also still in service.

[@klafong1]

People tend to easily forget how expensive consumer electronic devices were, even as recently as the 1970s.

[@jeromecabral7464]

I'm a big fan of vintage televisions

[@racecar_spelled_backwards868]

16:41 I'm liking the Accutron Spaceview

[@nerdful1]

I worked on those when they were new.

[@jerryspann8713]

That TV is 50 this year. Hopefully it is still working.

[@andydelle4509]

I would not recommend chasing that short by continually seeing if the breaker trips. As the breaker is on the primary side of the power transformer, you are putting severe stress on the power transformer windings each test. Those cheap thermal breakers are slow to trip. If you open or short a winding, a replacement transformer is un-obtanium these days! I would do resistance tests after isolating each 128v node and only do a power on test when I am reasonably sure I found the short.

[@kg4yhr]

Wish I could read a schematic like that never could

[@yourallbrainwashed]

i agree, zenith tvs used to kick ass

[@mariosiaven2965]

youreallbrainwashed my father was a tv tech and i can tell you up to 70s rca and zenith good but Sony Sanyo Sharp and Hitachi better now starting on the 80s there was a sready decline for Zenith but especially Rca

[@anthonymokelkie9360]

DAAMN NICE TV SET

[@schomminater]

My grandparent had the console version of this TV. The picture tube and power switch finally gave up.

[@compu85]

Is there a reason you cut then re-solder instead of de-soldering and re-soldering when going down the B+ tree?

[@LaurenceMacNeill]

That's exactly what I was wondering... Seems to me it'd be easier to de-solder the wires feeding out of the B+ tree rather than cutting component-leads and re-soldering.

[@drh4683]

The leads are often crimped into the solder cones before they were soldered, thus desoldering and pulling the leads out tends to cause other components to get overheated as you have to spend time working the leads free while the solder is still in it's molten state. I don't like having to cut leads, but in the long run, it ends up being neater, cleaner and safer.

[@LMacNeill]

Ahh, ok then. That makes a great deal of sense. Thanks for explaining. Much appreciated.

[@bemorewantless]

+drh4683 I did the same thing with some trimpots the other day. Too many fine wires around the yoke that the risk in fully removing wasn't worth it. It worked out very well in the end (Sony Wega KV-30HS420). Thanks for the great channel, by the way!

[@Tapes1982]

Excellent video. Do you recall the part number on the Mylar cap you used? I’m working on the same chassis now.

[@jenko701]

What I meant to say before is check continuity from case of horizontal output to ground wile in the circuit. In this case it would have been shorted ,and when you took it out you would have seen the transistor was not shorted and you would have started your search near the problem.

[@skuula]

That's kind of cool, a vintage TV repair shop with vintage test gear. But to complete it, you need to be chain smoking :)

[@mobilerapairringslotions4212]

Very very nice I like

[@anthonymokelkie9360]

i USE FIXX TVS TO LOTS THEM. DAMN THAT WAS A GOOD CHASSIS, REAL GOOD CHASSIS TO FIX MADE TO LAST THOSE TVS. NOT LIKE JUNK THESE DAYS.

[@SjoerdBeukers]

Have you ever gotten a shock from high voltage? from a charged cap or tube?

[@Plexxer23]

Bulova Accutron "Space View" watch :-)

[@jimmycarter9099]

Nice thanks again

[@irrationalgaming4127]

Great video! I'm glad to know that someone else also appreciates this great technology! (BKessler99)

[@Sta2200]

It takes some seconds..to trip the breaker.. because of the VRT design. They hold the current DOWN.. to maybe double the normal amount.. under short ckt conditions. Unlike a normal transformer..which would trip the breaker VERY fast.,.under short ckts.

[@klafong1]

During troubleshooting, I was fairly certain that the short-circuited component would turn out to be the horizontal output transistor. Ooops--I was proven wrong!

[@123demaio]

I would test for a shorted ceramic shorted cap

[@Rlotpir1972]

Why not keep it vertical and use it for a 60-1 arcade system with a couple of Atari Joysticks?

[@CKGM990]

Drh4683 would you teach me your ways?

[@DavidBerquist334]

i wish i kept my 19ec45 zenith

[@ArchiveProTV-qj8nm]

1973 Zenith Color Console TV.

[@robertgift]

Well done! Did you testhe other two capacitors, assuming theyvould likewise be shorting? Were Sonys nothe besTVs?

[@bonbonpony]

What's "B+"?

[@whenamradiorocked7256]

DC voltage, positive side. :)

[@dmode79]

27:11... that was scary :/

[@dmode79]

sad to hear that, But it's understandable. take care :)..

[@thrillscience]

I knew it wasn't C253C because there was 20 minutes more to go in the video!