I picked up a supposedly working Hantarex MTC 900/e chassis off eBay 6 months ago. It was very clean, appeared to have a very recent cap kit (looked like a LizardLick kit with black caps with blue writing that I've seen before from them vs. the light blue cans that Bob typically uses) I connected it up to a known good tube that worked fine with another 900/e (that had VLIN problems).
The results are that if there is no input signal, no amount of control cranking (Screen, Brightness, Contrast, RGB Drive and Cutoff controls) produces ANY visible glow on the screen.
With a signal, then only if brightness and contrast are cranked, and you significantly raise the drive and cutoff controls past midway do you get a dim picture. When it gets to about-quarter normal brightness, then of course the amount of gain is too high and all 3 colors significantly smear horizontally.
Interestingly enough, the screen control has virtually no effect on the brightness (maybe 1% swing?), but the focus control actually affects the brigthness more (at the same time making it a blurry blob or bringing it really sharp.
So basically the chassis seems to work and display fine, just doesn't do it bright enough.
I suspect it's a flyback issue, and perhaps something wrong with the screen/focus assembly or something similar. I haven't checked connection in the socket of the screen wire, but assume if it was disconnected, there would be no picture at all, right?
Interestingly the flyback appears visually different than my other 2 900/e's.. Plus this board has a daughter board with 3 pots, some caps, a heat sink and stuff on it behind the flyback that I've never seen before. THere are empty holes on my other 2 boards for it, but this is the first one I've seen populated. Any idea what the change is there?
Is it possible this is intended for 13" instead? Though all other ones I've seen easily go between 13 and 19 without problems. Also this board has a brown PCB on the signal processing (left) side and a green board on the high voltage/deflection side. My others have green boards throughout.
Thanks for any suggestions on this one.