Any good information on those 8-liner monitor chassis

[TheManuel]

I am referring to this:
http://www.8liners.com/datatech/monitor.html

Is there any website with more information on how to get these working or how well they work?
The actual website is very vague on information.

[Ken Layton]

Reviews of this chassis are already right here on this forum. Didn't you use the "search" function? There's one thread called 'woo hoo' or something like that with reviews.

As to how to hook it up, there's step-by-step photos at this site:

http://home.earthlink.net/~arcadeparts/index.html

Just click on the monitor model you're replacing. However, the site owner never finished added instructions to some of the pages. The last time the site owner updated it was in May of 2005. Be advised that the instructions are for using a Wei-ya brand replacement chassis, but it's similar to what you need to do.

[TheManuel]

Thanks a lot Ken.

As far as using the search function, give me some credit will you?  I'm a veteran of this message board  ; of course I used the search function but I looked for "8 liner".  How the heck would I have every thought of searching for "woo hoo" to get information on 8 liner chasis   

So these instruction would apply to a TV tube?

[Pac-Fan]

Search just the monitor forum for "8liner" not "8 liner".  You'll find the "Whoooo mama" thread that Ken eluded to as well as numerous others.

Also search by the actualy brand name of the chassis, not the name of the company that resells them.  8Liners.com aka Genoa.com out of Miama, FL sell the "JenShinn" brand. This is often spelled differently so search for "Jen" or "Jenn" and "Shin" or "Shinn" with or without a space or dash between them.  Also abbreviated to simply JS in some posts.

Another common replacement chassis is the Wei-Ya brand (also spelled WeiYa) that is mainly sold by Alva Amusements, also from Miami FL, as well as occassionally by an eBay seller called Video19__ something or other (digits in the name).


In summary from, what I've seen personally and read from the other posters over the years here:
The JS might offer an extra control or more usable one on some models, and tend to work with a wider range of yokes without or with less geometric distortion, tend to have a sharper image with any random tube and also include on-board isolation (so no external isolation transformer needed) but long term reliability is questioned by the monitor experts. They do cost more, on average $20 higher for either the 19" or 25" version.

On the other hand the WeiYa tend to have more geometric issues if you're just picking up random tubes (like piuncussion, warps or inability to stretch the image to fill the screen) and therefore be more apt to require a purchase of a matching yoke and doing a yoke swap and reconverge. They also tend to offer a softer picture on most tubes and exhibit image blooming and worse, image pulsing when the screen goes from dark to bright quickly (gets bright then dims and changes tint in brighter areas). However the long term reliability of these is frequently touted.  Separate versions for 25, 26, 27 sizes are supposedly available. On board isolation is avaialble for an extra amount of money if desired.


Looking at both chassis, they look very similar overall. Some of the exact same parts like the horizontal transistors and even flyback appear to have the same part numbers. There are differences but they're close, and not like comparing two different brands of 25 year old chassis that were significantly different.

[TheManuel]

Your post was really useful, Pac-Fan.

I would take my chances on long term reliability and go for the possibility of a better picture now so I will be researching those JenShinn's.
On the other hand, I find the process of coupling one of those to a TV tube a little daunting so my first option is to keep looking for a good deal on a used monitor.  The new ones are sadly very expensive compared to TV's.

[Ken Layton]

It appears that 8liners.com is no longer selling the Jen Shinn chassis. They're now selling the popular Wei-ya replacement chassis, the 1220 model. However, 8liners has jacked up the price now to $70.

Alva Amusement has more Wei-ya models and much lower prices than 8liners.com

[TheManuel]

Thanks a lot Ken.

All of a sudden it does not look as attractive.
I wish money was not an issue.  Then I would simply order a new one and not have to go through all the hassle.

For now it seems my best bet is to look for an used cab with a working monitor but that is also a pain in the butt.
It's all part of the hobby.

[TheManuel]

Both Alva Amusement and 8liners have almos the same price for the 25" 15kHz chassis ($75 vs $76).

Has anyone else have an opinion on the quality of the picture?
Per Ken, these are Wei-Ya chassis.

I might cave in and buy one if I can't find an good used monitor.

[Pac-Fan]

My personal results:

The Wei-Ya, while it 'worked' on about 10 different ~25" tubes, including 2x 27" and 1 brand new 23", had moderate to severe geometric problems on all but 1 tube, using the original TV yokes (so as not to pay extra for a yoke and even attempt to do  yoke swap and reconverge).  Issues were one or more of the following on each tube:

- Vertical and/or horizontal linerarity (center of the screen was stretched or crushed more than the outsides and the adjustments wouldn't fix enough)
- Pincushion
- Corner tearing (basically pincusion affecting only one of the 4 quadrants)
- Too large picture size not able to be brought in to fit, either H or V.

One tube--out of an RCA 25" set from 1996--had perfect geometry, but then exhibited some blooming problems but would be considered acceptable by most who didn't see the same tubes in the JenShinn chassis.


The JenShinn chassis however, was tested on all of these tubes. It worked better to near perfect, on ALL but 1 tube, and that tube I believe was just a bad tube as it was out of focus entirely.  Overall the images were sharper in most cases to no worse, and without any significant geometry problems.


I see that 8liners has changed pricing.  They used to have 19" for $65 and 25" for $95.  I see they now have a new online shopping cart and are now priced at $70 for 19" and $75 for 25". 

Since theirs, as long as you verify and they havn't changed, doesn't require an isolation transformer, and is a better image IMHO, I'd go with them.

Yes, the same chassis worked on 23, 25 and 27 tubes and could adjust out any pincushion or linearity problems and sized better to fit.

[TheManuel]

Thanks Pac-Fan.

After your first post, I though I had it figured out that I will go with the JenShinn based on our experience, hence purchase from 8liners.
However, Ken Layton indicated that 8liners is now selling the Wei-Ya chassis rather than JenShinn which, based on your comments below is not such an attractive proposition.

Is there another reliable vendor of JinShenn's?

[Pac-Fan]

Oh really?

That *tremendously* sucks.

Will have to check with them to see if they have access to JS anymore.  I should have picked up more last year on my last order.

[TheManuel]

I e-mailed JenShinn.
I'll let you know what they tell me.

[TheManuel]

I got an answer from JenShinn:

Dear Sir,
               Thank you for your interest in my factory product.We do sell directly to United States.
Can you let me know your exact location and the Model of my chassis that you wanted to buy??
What it's your estimated quantities to buy so that I can either quote you directly from my side or you prefer to buy from my client in United states.
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards/Margaret,Taiwan

This page contains their chassis models:
http://www.jenshinn.com.tw/chassis.htm

I would like to match the chassis to a 27" TV so I assume the models on the right-hand side are the ones for me although they indicate specifically that they are for 28 and 29".
I only need standard resolution so I can discard the model at the bottom.

Is anyone familiar with this chassis models?

[Pac-Fan]

I just used the standard 25" model that 8liners sold that worked with everything between 23 and 27 tubes, both round and square corner tubes as well.  I can check tonight to see what the model # is on them.

[TheManuel]

I'll appreciate it.

[TheManuel]

Victor confirmed 8liners still carries JenShinn monitors although he does not have any in stock at the moment but expects to have them in January.

I am leaning more and more towards going this route.