Supporting TV chassis while open

[Tom Del Rosso]

This is a mundane question, but it's an important safety issue, and I
expect that not everyone would have the same answer. I'm surprised it
doesn't seem to be in the FAQ.

When you open a chassis like the CTC177, where the back and bottom are
molded as one piece, how do you physically support the tube and board while
you're working so it doesn't tilt backward?

For any TV chassis I've ever opened that was made in the last 25 years,
they have boards mounted on the back with short wires connecting to the
main board. When you remove the back, what's your strategy for dealing
with the dangling boards?

 

[Rono]

The RCA, as well as most all T.V.'s made in the last 15 years allow
you to flip the main board over, untangle the wires to do do. Quite
easy. Be very carefull of "hot chassis"!! Rono.

 

[Tom MacIntyre]

The RCA, as well as most all T.V.'s made in the last 15 years allow
you to flip the main board over, untangle the wires to do do. Quite
easy. Be very carefull of "hot chassis"!! Rono.

I have also been concerned, though, about what Tom is referring to,
the way the remaining heavy CRT and not much cabinet tends to sway in
the breeze.

I don't think you need to worry about Tom and a hot chassis.

Tom

 

[Tom Del Rosso]

I have also been concerned, though, about what Tom is referring to,
the way the remaining heavy CRT and not much cabinet tends to sway in
the breeze.

Hell, my CTC177 doesn't sway -- it would immediately fall backwards if I
tried to let it stand when the cover is off. I can only let it sit open
with the screen tilted down, which makes the board hang, and makes it
impossible to work with power on. How can you work on things like this?

I don't think you need to worry about Tom and a hot chassis.

'Cause I'm too chicken? It depends on the chassis though.

 

[James Sweet]

This is a mundane question, but it's an important safety issue, and I
expect that not everyone would have the same answer. I'm surprised it
doesn't seem to be in the FAQ.

When you open a chassis like the CTC177, where the back and bottom are
molded as one piece, how do you physically support the tube and board while
you're working so it doesn't tilt backward?

For any TV chassis I've ever opened that was made in the last 25 years,
they have boards mounted on the back with short wires connecting to the
main board. When you remove the back, what's your strategy for dealing
with the dangling boards?

I usually just cobble something together to hold it, a big cardboard box
with parts of it cut out can hold a TV upright, or lay the set on it's face
on a piece of carpet, really just depends on the set.

 

[Ken Weitzel]

Tom Del Rosso wrote:

Hell, my CTC177 doesn't sway -- it would immediately fall backwards if I
tried to let it stand when the cover is off. I can only let it sit open
with the screen tilted down, which makes the board hang, and makes it
impossible to work with power on. How can you work on things like this?

Hi...

That's not recommended; hard on the neck of the tube

If it's at all helpful, back when I was doing 'em I had
one of those car window washer/squeegee things with an
adjustable little section in it.

Cut it off at the handle end to about the right size.
Mount a couple of junk pieces of metal to the back ledge
of your bench, so that the cut end can sit there without
moving sideways. Hard to explain, hopefully you'll get the
jist of the idea.

Then adjust the length of the squeegee arm to about the
right length and lock it, tip the set top forward so the
wide foam covered wide part sits at the top of the crt and
against the mask so it won't slide up.

Then roll the set top forward, and it'll stay there as
safe and as long as you like.

A couple of pieces of 12x12 mirror tile will even let you
look at the set if you feel powering it up tilted this
way.

Wish I were more eloquent so I could explain better.

Ken

 

[David Sewell]

I would love to see what kind of gizmo is used on the production lines for
these type of tv's. And, what is the *official* repair setup agents would
be expected to use.

 

[jakdedert]

This is a mundane question, but it's an important safety issue, and I
expect that not everyone would have the same answer. I'm surprised it
doesn't seem to be in the FAQ.

When you open a chassis like the CTC177, where the back and bottom are
molded as one piece, how do you physically support the tube and board while
you're working so it doesn't tilt backward?

For any TV chassis I've ever opened that was made in the last 25 years,
they have boards mounted on the back with short wires connecting to the
main board. When you remove the back, what's your strategy for dealing
with the dangling boards?

Not much help for your problem...I usually disconnect anything not
essential and prop the remains with a cardboard box.

On a related note, I suppose we've all noticed that TV cabinets are
getting flimsier and flimsier. I replaced a set for a friend the other
day, and because I didn't set it down 'just right' the front lip of the
cabinet just BROKE OFF! I had set it down carefully, slowly; but the
front of the cabinet--since I didn't set it down 'squarely' just failed,
with about a foot-long chunk falling off.

Luckily, that was the old one....

jak