Aligning?
 

One thing i never really knew how to do was align radios and TV sets. just a general thing, not related to any particular radio or TV set. Is there a site out there that explains what aligning is and its procedures?

Radio alignment is usually noted in the manual for the particular set Sam's , Riders what have you. Generally you are dealing with IF, mixer, oscillator, and rf stages. What you are looking to do is to start with the IF stages. Disable the avc circuit and tune IF adjustment for max output with least signal from the signal generator at the proper IF frequency. Manual will tell you where to connect generator and vom to make readings. Oscillator adjustments will determine where a given station will appear on the radio dial. For non shortwave sets this adjustment can be done by using broadcast stations at each end of the dial. Most inexpensive sets will only have an adjustment for the high end of the band. Here again check the manual. RF stages tune for max output with least signal from generator as per manual.
TV is a different story for another time
Terry

reason why i ask aligning a TV, I have an RCA victor, i have to go look at the model again, but the problem is, the video isnt quite inline with the sound. If i tune it to get the clearest picture on the fine-tune adjustment, the sound starts to key out and have alot of "buzz" in it. if i turn the fine-tune to bring in the best sound with the lowest buzz, the picture is fuzzy.

I always thought alignment was somewhat of a black art...The FIRST thing newbies do when they get an R-390A is to go tearing into the alignment...This is absolutely the most possible WRONG thing that they could do, a lot of 'em bollix it up but good, & think they've completely ruined the radio.

I've aligned a few AM radios (did just like 7"estatdef says above) and had good results. Never attempted a tv before. But I just got my RCA (KCS47 chassis) working, and it has the same sound problems you describe. I picked up alignment equipment (RCA sweep/marker generators) this summer. So I'm first going to repair/recap those and then attempt the alignment on the tv. I'll write a thread on it here as I go.

mine is fully recapped and out of tolerance resistors are replaced. another problem it has, its very loud even wtih the volume turned all the way down, some sound still slips through. but thats beyond the scope of this thread and warrants another. hehe

Poor ground on the volume control?

possibly, but i remmeber checking that.

Aligning?
 

First, I echo Sandy G- alignment is seldom the first thing you look at. First of all, alignment should only be performed on an AM radio that is otherwise working properly. It is never a troubleshooting technique and will not correct problems caused by shorted/open paper capacitors, faults in the power supply, OOV resistors, etc, etc. Although I have heard it said that "leave alignment to the experienced repairmen”, the only way anyone gets that experience is by actually doing it. Alignment techniques can be learned on simple AAV receivers..

It is even possible to align an AAV by using one’s ear, but perhaps not desirable.

Alignment of FM receivers and TV is vastly different and requires, at a minimum, a scope and a sweep generator.

A good general discussion of alignment for AM, Fm, and television can be had here
http://www.antiqueradios.org/gazette/align.htm

You can find a pdf of the Marcus and Levy book, Elements of Radio Servicing here: (buy this book if you can)

http://www.antiqueradios.com/archive.shtml

You might want to take a look at Parts I and II. Alignment Techniques are then covered in Part IV, beginning at page 413.
Good Luck
Ron