I THINK THIS RESTORATION WILL BE VERY INEXPENSIVE. SINCE ZENITH WAS USING MYLAR CAPS AT THE TIME OF PRODUCTION, I THINK MOST, IF NOT ALL, WILL BE OK. I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE VERTICAL LINEARITY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. IF I HAD BAD CAPS, VERTICAL PROBLEMS WOULD BE PRESENT, AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS. I MAY ONLY NEED TO SWAP A TUBE OR TWO, IF THAT.
THE CABINET IS IN OVERALL GOOD SHAPE. THERE ARE PAINT SPECKS ON THE TOP AND SOME USUAL WEAR AND TEAR. I'LL CLEAN IT WITH CITRUS SOLUTION.
THE LID FOR THE RADIO NEEDS TO BE SHIMMED ON ONE SIDE. IT RUBS THE MAIN CABINET WHEN I LIFT IT. THERE IS SOME VERY MINOR LIFTING OF THE VENEER IN THE AREA. IT WILL BE REGLUED. THE SPRING HINGES THAT KEEP BOTH LIDS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB. I WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX THEM. (UPDATE: I WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE SPRING HINGES.)
THE TUNER AND MAIN PANEL CONTROLS WILL NEED TO BE CLEANED AGAIN. ONE CLEANING WAS NOT ENOUGH. THE TUNERS WILL ALSO NEED CLEANED AGAIN. THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A SET THAT HAS SET UNUSED FOR MANY YEARS.
THE PICTURE TUBE IS GOOD. THE PICS HERE DO NOT REALLY SHOW THAT. THE CONTRAST IS ANEMIC (DIRTY CONTRAST CONTROL). I CAN GET GOOD BRIGHTNESS, BUT SET IT LOW SO THE PIC DOES NOT WASH OUT. THE COLOR LOOKS GOOD. THE HUE CONTROL HAS A GOOD RANGE.
CLEANING ALL THE CONTROLS AND TUNERS WILL SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS. I WILL ALSO CLEAN ANY TUBE SOCKETS THAT MAY BE QUESTIONABLE. I'LL TEST THE TUBES FOR LEAKAGE AND REPLACE ANY THAT HAVE GRID OR HEATER/CATHODE LEAKAGE.
I WILL ALSO CHECK THE RADIO FOR PROPER OPERATION. EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOLID STATE, I WILL DO A SOFT START. THE TURNTABLE WILL BE DISASSEMBLED, LUBRICATED, AND CHECKED FOR PROPER OPERATION. I DID GET REPLACEMENT STYLI WITH THIS SET. I WILL NOT PLAY MY VINYL ON THIS TURNTABLE. IF I WANT TO USE THIS SET FOR MUSIC LISTENING, I WILL TIE IN A CD PLAYER.
I WILL POST PICTURES OF MY PROGRESS AS THE RESTORATION CONTINUES.
