I pulled and checked both C41 and C36 and both were within tolerance/no leakage. I also checked the resistance across pins 1 and 3 of the M5 integrator. It showed a reading of just under 200K, which I assume means its still in tolerance (the sum of the two resistors it contains is 150K).
As for the VDR, I hooked it up to my Sprague TO-6 capacitor analyzer set to leakage check. I slowly turned up the voltage and right around 275 - 300V it began to draw current. I don't exactly know if that's what it's supposed to do, but it would seem appropriate IF it's intended to clip the voltage if goes above the 250v supply...
I've searched around a bit for another transformer and although I haven't been able to track down the exact part number from any of the brands the Sams lists, I have found some that are off by one or two model numbers. I did come across an old post from 2011 on the antique radios forum (
http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...c.php?t=159006) where someone was selling a lot of transformers and one of them was a Triad A-133X. according to the post, it has an 8:1 ratio. If I can't find an exact replacement, which is more important, the ratio, or the resistance?
the thing that still really bugs me (and keeps my hopes up that it may not be the transformer after all) is that this dead vertical sweep issue is semi-sporadic.
It first died on me about a year ago, but if I wait a month or so and then power it on, the vertical will work for about 30 min to an hour. In that brief time, you'll see the vertical height *lightly* flutter a little every once in a while, but otherwise it appears to work fine. But then suddenly the whole raster collapses to a bright horizontal line. It may be important to note that every time I observe the vertical fail, I notice that it collapses *somewhat* slowly... a rate comparable to the way some sets behave when you power them off and picture shrinks to a dot rather slowly. I feel like if the transformer was actually shorting, the picture would snap to a line instantly.
any ideas?