It's probably not a magnet, but rather a ferrite
core. You'd know the
difference putting the pieces together -- if you feel no attraction or
repulsion, it's not a permanent magnet.
A ferrite core on its own probsbly wouldn't do much (unless it was
inserted inside a coil, say). It could be associated with a permanent
magnet, though.
As for the problem, I wonder if the issue is that the
core is in the
wrong spot. It's part of the deflection magnetics assembly, and if
it's misplaced then you'd certainly get problems like you describe.
Take a look at the corresponding piece at the bottom of the yoke. I
would expect things to be symmetric. The fact that the thing fell out
suggests that it may have been out of position, and when you pushed it
back in you may not have gotten it back where it actually belongs.
Another possibility is that there's something else -- say a permanent
magnet -- missing. Conpare the top and bottom of the yoke and if anything
is not theee. A permanent magnet, of course, might be stuck to any part
of the monitor chassis (and might be messing up the raster as a result!).
-tony