got in there last night and might have found the issue.slid the chassis out a little and the problem disappeared.i think it might be ground problem.i will look for broken joints,etc.this is not a vertical issue.vertical looks proportionate and work the way it should.ron said it might be something in the blanker or video so i will check for ground problem in those circuits'

I just remembered seeing something like this in a Zenith, wiggle the video out tube.

I would reccomend reflowing the ground stakes on the sweep, and video board. That could very well be where the problem is.

I sure hope you've found the problem. Intermittent things are the worst.

this problem wasnt intermittent.when we got to poking around,ron saw the arc and also,there is an electrolytic that has been clamped to the chassis to replace one.it arcs when the set comes also.i pulled chassis away from picture tube and noticed problem seemed to disappear.when i scooted back,it re-appeared.i think i have a handle on it.thanks to all and thanks to my buddy who came over to help.he told me what to do to find the problem.thanks ron!

Hooray! Maybe we can see pictures?