Q:  I have been fixing all of my own monitors lately, but only having luck when a cap kit fixes the problem. Now I am starting on my dead ones. I notice in Randy Fromm's flow charts, he says to "Check this transistor or that one". How exactly do you "Check" a transistor. 

A:  Biggest problem with transistors is that they short, especially the horizontal outputs. Easiest way to check a horizontal output transistor is with an ohm meter - put the negative on ground (chassis frame is fine) and touch the positive to the metal case of the HO T. You should see not less than about 450 ohms or so depending on your meter.

To check a transistor other than an output is a tad more involved - since the vast majority of transistor failure is due to shorts rather than opens lets stick look at that first. There should be no less than perhaps 450 to 750 ohms between any two legs of a transistor, regardless of the polarity of the leads. If a transistor measures less than that in circuit, remove it and test it out of circuit - needless to say, paying careful attention to how it goes back in :)

To test for open elements in a transistor it is necessary to know if it is NPN or PNP. Without getting technical, the 2SA and 2SB transistors are PNP and the 2SC and 2SDs are NPN. Your meter must have a diode check setting in the ohms range to work properly for this. For a NPN transistor put the positive on the base - you should see between 450 and 750 ohms between base and emitter and base and collector, again depending on your meter. To test a PNP transistor, use the negative lead on the base and the positive on the other 2 elements; readings should be in the same range.

It would be a good idea to test a batch of transistors in a known good monitor to get a feel for how your meter reads. Also a good resource to have on hand is an SK or NTE replacement book, available from Grimmer's Electronics, 518-374-8480, as well as any TV replacement parts distributor. It will give you basing diagrams for the leads on transistors that are not marked on the board.