How to remove Trinitron Faceplate

[evil_ash_xero]

OK, this was about changing tubes earlier, but after looking at my two Trinitrons, despite being different model numbers, they have the same exact faceplate. One has some damage.
So, later down the line, when the tube croaks, I would like to start using my other TV, but change it's faceplate so it looks all nice and new, like my current one (and not with damage, caused by Fed Ex).

There are the screws on the top, and from what I have seen, that pulls the back part off. Now, how would one go about removing the faceplate (the silver part), from the screen?

Are there any tear down vids anyone could point me to? I have see it for monitors (and even in the monitor one, they skip over that part), but not for CRT TVs.

EDIT: OK, I looked at some service manuals, and I think I got the gist of how to do it.

One question though. I have heard there is some danger it taking apart a TV. Like, it can kill you. So, I would like to avoid that.
But that seems to be messing around with the back part, am I right? I don't think I should be in any danger just unscrewing the faceplate off.

Anyone care to chime in???

[bobrocks95]

The service manuals describe tube replacement, so yes it's possible. Good luck finding someone who would know how and be willing to do it though. I don't think you could find a person now, much less 10+ years down the road when the tube goes out.

[Xan]

Why not pick up some spare CRTs instead?

[evil_ash_xero]

I have spare CRTs. This one got damaged in the mail.

There's always some issues with CRTs. I have to travel 2 to 3 hours to get one, when I get one off of Ebay or Craigslist. I live in the middle of nowhere.

So, I would like to make due a bit, with the ones I have. And if all I have to do is swap a faceplate, I think that's a better option than driving all over the place to get a new TV.

EDIT: Actually, here's my great times with CRTs. After my last CRT died about 4 years ago, and seeing all the problems with LCDs, I panicked, and started to try and find some CRTs.

Here's what I have got/went through:

TV 1: Sharp X-Flat 1 (new): Started having a really loud whistling noise coming from back of TV. Sent it to repairman. Said repairman was an old idiot, and ended up throwing it out, without calling me or anything. So, is probably crushed up in a junkyard now.
TV 2: Sharp X-Flat 2 (new): Still have this one. Green overpowers everything. I have to turn up red and blue to get the green tint out. But this will ALWAYS redden up the whites. So, it makes for a frustrating picture. Also, factory reset killed the sound.
TV 3: Sony Trinitron 27 1: Good TV. Unfortunately, has some burn in. So, I don't use it on NES/PC Engine games, as it's noticeable on plainer backgrounds.
TV 4: Sony Trinitron 27 2: Good Old TV. It's age worries me (2000), and it's shell is yellowed, and a bit scratched. Listed as "basically new condition". Wasn't quite the case. It also wasn't the model he said it was. But I'm standing there in Virginia, after driving 3 hours, I'm not coming back with nothing.
TV 5: Sony Trinitron 27 3: Very nice, has no burn in. Was damaged in mail, and has damage to the faceplate. So, that's why I want to swap faceplates.
TV 6: Panasonic TAU: Shaky pixels. Drives me insane. Had a thread about it a long while back, to try to figure it out. Seems to be a problem with the model. It's picture is also WAY too sharp. Makes PS2 games look like PS1 games. Will have to get rid of this one.
TV 7: Sony Trinitron 36 (new): Other than being enormous, it works fine. Just got it, so time will tell. Picture not as sharp as the smaller TVs. But that may just be the nature of the beast.

Yeah, I'm stockpiling, but I'm always having issues.

[evil_ash_xero]

Update: took one of them apart. The faceplate has some screws located in an area that I would need a very long screwdriver to remove. Or to just take it all apart. I'll leave it alone for now, as I'm still not sure if those are the only screws, and I am not taking the tube and board out (while it's still functioning, anyway).

[Xan]

Do you need these huge screen sizes? Why not pick up a nice 14" PVM? Much easier to transport and store and you get RGB as well.

[evil_ash_xero]

Nah, I can't go any lower than 27. I guess I could...I have a 20 (or 22) inch that ain't so bad
I'm pretty sure a 14 wouldn't be for me.

I need a little room to breathe.

Can you imagine playing Resident Evil 4 on a 14 inch screen?

The 36 inch I got, just because it was unused. I was a little intimidated by it's size, when it came in.

[Xan]

I've played that game many times on CRTs that size, not an issue for me personally. The viewable area is even smaller than normal because of underscan at the top and bottom.

I will admit that games look more "impressive" on really large screens, but I simply adjust by sitting a bit closer and enjoying the image just as much. From my experience some 20"+ CRTs also tend to buzz really loud, which is pretty much a non-issue on 14" sets.

[bobrocks95]

Anything lower than maybe 24" or so isn't very fun when you have a friend over. I get the feeling 14" users go the single-player route.

[evil_ash_xero]

I have some issues with my eyes anyway. I need to be sitting a bit of a way back.

[Taiyaki]

Actually I like 14, 20 and 24 inch sizes because that's what I grew up on. I would always play up close and had no problems lol. 27 inch and up is awesome if you have the room and the manpower to manage moving them in place.

[evil_ash_xero]

Actually I like 14, 20 and 24 inch sizes because that's what I grew up on. I would always play up close and had no problems lol. 27 inch and up is awesome if you have the room and the manpower to manage moving them in place.

The moving the TVs around is such a pain. Sometimes, I'll just be like "I FUCKING HATE THESE TVS!".
I got a furniture dolly, that makes moving them about tons easier.

The 36 TV was just brutal to move around. But whatever. It's nice to look at.

I fully expected the NES to look bad on it. Like, too pixelated. But nope, not at all. It's pretty cool.

[Ed Oscuro]

Many Trinitrons are totally different in design from one another, so "how do I disassemble a Trinitron" is kind of like saying "how do I take the motor out of a Ford." Even in the same time frame: From what I see the PVM 20L4 should be similar to the L5, because both share a similar front panel control design. However, the 20L2 made after those use the older style seen in many monitors from years before.

I will note that in some of the more advanced models with the light-up buttons and so on, there's more than just a face plate sitting over a slot. The capacitive touch buttons on (for example) and possibly other things on the 20L5 faceplate connect through to the chassis behind, and getting it off isn't quite dead simple (at least without plans).

Edit: See, now at the bottom of the page I realize you're probably talking about consumertrons. Welp, can't say much there except that you probably will find some mounting points inside to take the tube and boards away from the housing, rather than the other way around.