BEFORE I EVEN THINK OF BEGINNING A RESTORATION, I DO A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE CHASSIS. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE CABINET. YOU COULD EASILY HAVE A CHASSIS THAT IS IN NO SHAPE EVEN FOR A SOFT START. I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE AND WILL AGAIN:
NEVER PLUG IT IN AND TURN IT ON!!!
HERE IS WHAT I LOOK FOR BEFORE EVEN THINKING ABOUT APPLYING POWER:
1. THE CHASSIS IS COMPLETE. LOOK FOR ANY MISSING PARTS. ESPECIALLY LOOK FOR MISSING TRANSFORMERS OR OTHER HARD TO FIND PARTS. MISSING TUBES ARE NOT A BIG DEAL. YOU COULD REPLACE ANY MISSING TUBES AT THIS TIME.
2. CHECK THE POWER TRANSFORMER (IF EQUIPPED) FOR SIGNS THAT IT HAS OVERHEATED. A TARLIKE OOZE ON THE UNDERSIDE CAN BE PRESENT, BUT IT DOENS'T MEAN THE TRANSFORMER IS BAD.
3. MAKE SURE ALL TUBES ARE IN THEIR CORRECT SOCKETS. SOMETIMES TUBES ARE SUBSTITUTED. USING A 6U8 IN PLACE OF A 6GH8 IS NOT UNCOMMON. A TUBE SUBSTITUTION MANUAL WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO HAVE HERE.
4. MAKE SURE ALL WIRING IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS INCLUDES THE LINE CORD. FRAYED WIRES TOUCHING THE WRONG THING IS A TOTAL RECIPE FOR DISASTER. RUBBER COVERED WIRING IS NOTORIOUS. THE RUBBER DRIES OUT AND FLAKES OFF. ONE GOOD BEER FART CAN STRIP A RUBBER COVERED WIRE. RADIO MANUFACTURERS, ESPECIALLY PHILCO, WERE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. IT EVEN CARRIED OVER TO TELEVISION. IT IS NOT LIMITED TO ONE MANUFACTURER. YOU CAN USE HEAT SHRINK TUBING TO RESLEEVE RUBBER COVERED WIRE.
5. ELECTROLYTIC CAPS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY SPEWED THEIR GUTS. IF THIS IS THE CASE. REPLACE THEM.
6. CHECK THE FLYBACK FOR SIGNS THAT IT HAS BURNED INSULATION. IF THE WAX/RUBBER MATERIAL USED HAS MELTED OFF, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE FLY IS BAD. ZENITH FROM THE EARLY 50'S (PORTHOLES AND THEIR FIRST RECTANGULAR SETS), AND RCA COLOR (ESPECIALLY THE CTC-38), AND THEIR CLONES WERE NOROTIOUS FOR FLYBACK FAILURE. IF YOU SEE A SPOT WHERE IT HAS STARTED TO BURN, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CUT THAT INSULATION OUT AND RECOAT WITH SILICONE.
7. LOOK FOR OTHER BURNED COMPONENTS.
8. LOOK FOR CAPS THAT MAY HAVE EXPLODED.
9. LOOK FOR ANY HACK REPAIRS. IF YOU SEE ANY REPAIR THAT LOOKS LESS THAN PROFESSIONAL (REPLACEMENT CAP WHERE THEY DIDN'T TRIM THE LEADS TO FIT, OR PARTS FLOATING IN AIR).
10. LOOK FOR SELENIUM RECTIFIERS. IF YOU SEE THEM, CHUCK THEM. IN4007 DIODES WORK WELL HERE.
11. LOOK FOR MISSING TUBE SHIELDS OR OTHER METAL SHIELDS. THIS CAN CAUSE ISSUES LATER.
12. CHECK THE YOKE FOR COVER ROT. THIS IS NOT FATAL. YOU MAY HAVE TO SUB OR MAKE A YOKE COVER.
13. CHECK THE PICTURE TUBE. IF IT IS CHASSIS MOUNTED, REMOVE IT AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE SAFE.
14. CHECK THE LOUDSPEAKER FOR DAMAGE.
15. CLEAN THE TUNER AND ALL CONTROLS.
IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR, IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO ATTEMPT A SOFT START.