Need to clean lenses and do manual focus/alignment of guns on a VS-5055. How do I get access to them and adjust? Thank you.

CRT projection televisions need periodic maintenance to maintain a clear picture. Typically, to maintain a sharp picture, they require cleaning and alignment every two or three years. If the television is being used in an environment where there is cigarette smoke or other smoke sources, the optics inside the television can become dirty and cause the picture to blur. Additionally, CRT focus and alignment wander over time, or physical CRT alignment can be knocked out if the set is bumped or dropped. All RCA CRT projection televisions have an "alignment" or "convergence" adjustment in their adjustment menus, which are fairly simple to use. The convergence feature is usually accessible from the main menu of the television. Check your User's Manual for the procedure to touch-up the convergence adjustment and see if you are able to achieve a sharper picture. If the optics in your set have not been cleaned for several years, or if it is in a smoky environment, the picture will be blurry and usually a brownish color, In any case, since the set is several years old at this point, it's likely due for a cleaning. This is best done by a technician, and mostly involves physical cleaning of internal lenses, the refractor mirror on the back of the chassis, and the back of the opaque display screen. An adjustment of CRT bias controls and individual CRT focus adjustments will bring further improvement in the image sharpness and clarity.

This TV is a rear projection television and does not have a lamp. It has three CRT color guns (Red, Blue, and Green). You have a convergence issue (the red, blue and green color guns aren't aligned properly) and it doesn't sound like a very big one. You should be able to adjust this through the CONVERGENCE Menu in ADVANCED SETTINGS.
More details can be found in your manual, here. The model number isn't exactly the same but I'm sure the process is identical or really close. The other option would be a bad IC (integrated circuit) for the convergence control. This is unlikely unless your picture looks something like this:

The blue is caused by the RGB gun alignment. Green is a fixed gun and Red and Blue are adjustable. In my Mitsubishi, the guns are motorized and can initially be adjusted (course) with the remote. There are more detailed adjustments that can be made if you purchase the service manual. I paid approx $19.00 on line 3 years ago and it is a complete manual. Unfortunetly I don't remember the site. To do a complete alignment, there are steps to take: starting with entering a code using the remote to enter the setup. To make a long story short, I had my tv aligned 3 or 4 times over 5 years under the extended warranty. After watching the tech, who was good, but under time constraints, it was clear that most anyone could do it if they could read and follow instructions.

there is a convergence pattern generator built in to the set for alignment.if it is a color halo around writing or solid objects you need to align the pattern so it makes one grid of white lines.if a gun via the lense is out of adjustment because the set was moved,that is a different issue.on the side of each lense is a lock nut.loosen the nut and the focus and position can be adjusted .

Hi Dan,
I emailed you 2 ideas, how to get approach lenses for focusing.
Hope that would be helpful to you.

There is a focus block with 6 buttons, 3 on the top and 3 on the bottom 3 controls the focus for the guns and 3 control the screen adjustment for the CRTs. It is usually located in the front underneath the screen behind the speaker panel and access panel. Some models are in the back of the TV but most are in the front.Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more info.

You probably just have dust build up on the lenses. You can remove the lower back (with the set unplugged) and once you have that done you now have access to clean the lenses using a soft cloth and wipe them down. Don't adjust the lenses as you will spend more time correcting a problem that you create by doing so. Good luck..

Do self diagnosis test by pressing input and menu on set at the same time for 5 sec. It should blink a 2 digit code. Remember code and let me know.

You are going to need a full convergance alignment to rectify this issue.

If your unit has a switch for manual focus, put it in manual. If you cannot focus the unit in manual you have a problem with the lense and it will need repaired and/or replaced. If you do not have manual focus you will not be able to troubleshoot the unit. It could be a lense problem as stated before or a problem with the Auto Focus system, perhaps just out of adjustment, or something more serious. Either way if you are not capable of camcorder repair you will have to seek the help of a reputable repair shop. Good luck.