This Old Sony CRT TV Has a Shrunken Picture on Both Sides — Here’s How I Fixed It

This old Sony CRT TV came in covered in YEARS of dust and grime — but the real problem was on the screen: the picture was SHRUNKEN on both sides, with thick black bars on the left and right edges. Instead of filling the whole screen, the image was squeezed into the middle, making it almost unwatchable. A classic horizontal width / geometry fault on vintage CRT televisions. Sony CRT TVs — especially the legendary Trinitron series — were the GOLD STANDARD of television for decades. Built like tanks with incredible picture quality, these sets were prized in homes worldwide and are now highly sought after by retro gaming enthusiasts and vintage TV collectors. A working Sony CRT can sell for $100-500+ today, especially among gamers who need CRT displays for authentic retro gaming (zero input lag!). The "shrunken picture / black bars on sides" problem is a common CRT fault caused by issues in the horizontal deflection circuit — usually dried capacitors, a failing geometry IC, or problems in the pincushion correction circuit. Most people assume the TV is finished, but this is actually a very REPAIRABLE fault! In this video, I diagnose the horizontal width problem on this dusty Sony CRT TV, locate the actual cause, and bring the picture back to full screen. If you have a Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, or any CRT TV with a squeezed or shrunken picture, this video shows you exactly what to look for. 🔧 What you'll see in this video: Inspecting the dusty, abandoned Sony CRT TV Confirming the shrunken picture / black bars fault Opening the CRT chassis safely (HIGH VOLTAGE warning!) Understanding the horizontal deflection circuit Locating the geometry/width control section Testing capacitors and components Finding the real cause of the width problem Replacing the faulty component Adjusting the geometry settings The satisfying moment when the picture fills the screen again! Final test with live TV broadcast! 📺 Sony CRT TV Notes: • Brand: Sony (legendary picture quality) • Type: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) television • Common fault: Horizontal width / pincushion geometry • Era: Classic Sony CRT design • Value today: $100-500+ (retro gaming + collectors) • Repair difficulty: Intermediate to advanced ⚠️ EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING: CRT televisions contain LETHAL high voltage — the picture tube can hold 20,000-30,000 VOLTS even when unplugged for DAYS! The flyback transformer and CRT anode are EXTREMELY dangerous. NEVER open a CRT TV unless you are trained and know how to safely discharge the tube. This video is for educational purposes — if you're not experienced with CRT high voltage, take your TV to a qualified technician! If you have a vintage CRT TV with picture geometry problems, don't throw it away! These TVs are increasingly valuable, especially Sony Trinitrons. Retro gamers will PAY for working CRTs, and the picture quality for old games and movies is unmatched by modern displays. 🎵 Watch until the end to see this Sony CRT TV display a full-screen picture again! 👍 If you love vintage electronics, CRT TV repair, retro gaming gear, and DIY fixes, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 to support the channel. Thanks for watching — let's fix it together! #SonyCRT #CRTTVRepair #VintageTVRepair #CRTRestoration #HorizontalWidthFix #RetroGaming #TrinitronRepair #CRTGeometry #VintageElectronics #TVRepair #PictureTubeRepair #SonyTrinitron