AKAI CFT2726 picture sides cut off.

If I had to guess I would say it's either the DLP chip or the prism. Simply put the lamp lights the DLP chip which directs the light into a prism and then onto the TV screen. The prism or prisms are responsible for aligning the colors correctly. The DLP chip is essentially a million little moving mirrors which direct light

If you're at all comfortable with electronics you might want to open the TV up to take a look. You might get lucky and find something obviously wrong with the TV. Sometimes adhesives melt and parts slip out of place. If your DLP chip is blown there isn't much you can do. You're probably right that this would cost a lot to fix and not be worth it.

If the perfect focus isnt working its caused by failed convergence. You can get the convergence board from www.tvrepairworld.com its under the Samsung / Akai circuit boards.

This is a common problem. Its called a convergence failure.

Problem #1) Convergence

Symptoms:

• Screen Looks 3D
• Colors wont align
• Video may look distorted

You can see some examples and find a fix here...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r2861467-solution_video_looking_whiteish_dull

Download owners manual from makers website.

Projection sets have two very common problems outlined below.

The first common problem is convergence

These sets need to have all three colors - RED - BLUE - GREEN - lined up correctly on the screen in order for the picture to look normal. This is called convergence.

When its out of alignment the video will look 3-D, wavy, distorted, etc. The TV can also shut down when the convergence starts to fail.

Most of the time you just need to adjust your convergence in the menu. If you cannot adjust it in the menu - then your convergence is broken and needs to be repaired.

Convergence problems are very common on all Projection TV sets including Sony, Samsung,JVC,Philip Magnavox,Panasonic,Akai,Pioneer, Hitachi,Mitsubishi,Zenith, RCA and others.


You can more info and a DIY convergenece repair kit with instructions from TV Repair Kits using the link at the end of this article.

Here are some of the most common problems with these sets...

*Screen Looks 3-D
*Colors wont align
*Screen may look distorted or warped or bowed
*No Audio/Video - TV Shuts down - May also make a constant chirping sound

Problem #2 - Another common problem is dull or washed out video.

Your set may have one or more of the following symptoms....

*Dull looking picture
*White looking picture
*Halos around objects
*Red/Orange looking picture

SOLUTION

You can see some more examples and find a fix using this link on Fixya

http://www.fixya.com/support/r2861467-solution_video_looking_whiteish_dull

yes this model is a digital television

the problem is called pincushion

usually fixable not by anyone without electronics background

guessing around $150 you have to decide
as long as it has a good clear sharp picture its worth it

Today may be your lucky day. Approach this procedure with extreme caution and take your time. Sometimes when you replace that board you have to do a full digital convergence alignment. With tv off, push mute,1,8,3,power. Tv will come on in service mode. Certain buttons can now screw up the set in a major way, do not guess. press 7 to adj. red, 8 for green, or 9 for blue. Then look for the highlighted "x" intersection. Use directional buttons to adj. while careful to watch screen. Vol+ and - or ch+ and - make moves, mute moves cursor. If alignments move up, down, left, and right continue until all intersections are aligned. Turn power off to start over. When done press add/del on remote to save settings. That should fixya.

Activate CC/Text function.If CC1 is on,CC2 may be off position.The key to this scenario is understanding both on and off of text box as well as cc on and off.

Your set has what is know as "convergence problem" because of the bowed lines and ghost in different colors,is really not an easy solution,the set should have 3 amplifiers(one for each color)and they need to be replaced with an exact replacement,sometimes just by replacing them the aligment should be close but soemtimes you nned to get into the service menu to do some adjustments,the amps(IC's) are mounted on heat sinks and all 3 have the same part number on its face,they normally read STK--- ---,every set uses different amps,If you are familiar with tv service you have now a place to start working but if you are not too familiar be safe and call for help from a servicer.Let Us know if you need more information.