Light printing on LJ5

  • Thread starter Samuel M. Goldwasser
  • Start date
S

Samuel M. Goldwasser

Guest
This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend. It has always been rather light even on maximum dark
settings but is now getting to the point where I'm thinking of actually
buying (gasp!) a new printer.

The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

The toner cartridge and been replaced with no change.

It's not used very much, mainly for mailing labels and is clean inside.

It seems to me that there use to be settings for darkness in the LJ5 driver
but since upgrading (!!) to XP, they don't appear anymore. That improved
it a bit, though never as dark as it should be. But might be enough.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

--
sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.
Click to expand...
Beware of friends bearing free printers.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

It has always been rather light even on maximum dark
settings but is now getting to the point where I'm thinking of actually
buying (gasp!) a new printer.

The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.
Click to expand...
My guess(tm), is that it's the laser scanner assembly. The optics are
either full of filth, or the laser diode is low on output. I vaguely
recall that you know something about lasers. However, it's more
likely that the rotating mirror or plastic optics are filthy.

The toner cartridge and been replaced with no change.
It's not used very much, mainly for mailing labels and is clean inside.
Click to expand...
I recall that this was the lightly used printer that I suggested you
replace about 9 months ago.

It seems to me that there use to be settings for darkness in the LJ5 driver
but since upgrading (!!) to XP, they don't appear anymore. That improved
it a bit, though never as dark as it should be. But might be enough.
Click to expand...
Depending on model, most have the adjustment. Make sure the
"economode" is off.

Any suggestions appreciated.
Click to expand...
Get a new (used) printer.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
 
Samuel M. Goldwasser <sam@repairfaq.org> wrote in message
news:ufx6f1bmy.fsf@repairfaq.org...
This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend. It has always been rather light even on maximum dark
settings but is now getting to the point where I'm thinking of actually
buying (gasp!) a new printer.

The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

The toner cartridge and been replaced with no change.

It's not used very much, mainly for mailing labels and is clean inside.

It seems to me that there use to be settings for darkness in the LJ5
driver
but since upgrading (!!) to XP, they don't appear anymore. That improved
it a bit, though never as dark as it should be. But might be enough.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

--
sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above
is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included
in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
Click to expand...

Damp paper ?
Try passing some sheets through the system, so heated by fuser roller, and
then passing through again the other way up
 
On Jan 9, 8:33 am, s...@repairfaq.org (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote:


The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

Any suggestions appreciated.
Click to expand...
I think you have a dusty lightpath. If there's dust or fogging on the
rotating mirror (warning: it takes a lot of disassembly to get to
that),
or on the scanner enclosure window, it hurts thin lines like that.
The mirror can only be dusted (blow dust off with compressed air),
not wiped. The window can be wiped off with isopropyl alcohol,
but if there's a film on the inner surface, it's complete-disassembly
time.
 
Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.

Beware of friends bearing free printers.
Click to expand...
Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.
Click to expand...
LaserJet 5

It has always been rather light even on maximum dark
settings but is now getting to the point where I'm thinking of actually
buying (gasp!) a new printer.

The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

My guess(tm), is that it's the laser scanner assembly. The optics are
either full of filth, or the laser diode is low on output. I vaguely
recall that you know something about lasers. However, it's more
Click to expand...
:)

likely that the rotating mirror or plastic optics are filthy.

The toner cartridge and been replaced with no change.
It's not used very much, mainly for mailing labels and is clean inside.

I recall that this was the lightly used printer that I suggested you
replace about 9 months ago.
Click to expand...
Could be, but I think I was only complaining about paper feed then, and
a good cleaning of the exit roller fixed that.

It seems to me that there use to be settings for darkness in the LJ5 driver
but since upgrading (!!) to XP, they don't appear anymore. That improved
it a bit, though never as dark as it should be. But might be enough.

Depending on model, most have the adjustment. Make sure the
"economode" is off.
Click to expand...
Off.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Get a new (used) printer.
Click to expand...
In this case I tend to agree but might explore the scanner assembly, probably
after I get a new printer!

Thanks!

--
sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Click to expand...
 
On Sat, 9 Jan 2010 12:21:44 -0800 (PST), whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com>
wrote:

On Jan 9, 8:33 am, s...@repairfaq.org (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote:


The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I think you have a dusty lightpath. If there's dust or fogging on the
rotating mirror (warning: it takes a lot of disassembly to get to
that),
or on the scanner enclosure window, it hurts thin lines like that.
The mirror can only be dusted (blow dust off with compressed air),
not wiped. The window can be wiped off with isopropyl alcohol,
but if there's a film on the inner surface, it's complete-disassembly
time.
Click to expand...
Roger all that, if it is a 5L.
 
On Jan 9, 10:33 am, s...@repairfaq.org (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote:
This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.  It has always been rather light even on maximum dark
settings but is now getting to the point where I'm thinking of actually
buying (gasp!) a new printer.

The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

The toner cartridge and been replaced with no change.

It's not used very much, mainly for mailing labels and is clean inside.

It seems to me that there use to be settings for darkness in the LJ5 driver
but since upgrading (!!) to XP, they don't appear anymore.  That improved
it a bit, though never as dark as it should be.  But might be enough.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

--
    sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/
 Repair | Main Table of Contents:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
        | Mirror Sites:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line.  Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs..
Click to expand...
Can you switch to a different type font to keep on using the printer
for a few more months until the toner cartridge finally gives out?
 
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.
Click to expand...
I really hate satisfied customers. It's really bad for my repair biz.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

LaserJet 5
Click to expand...
Ok, EX II series printer:
<http://www.printerworks.com/Printers/LaserJet_5_5M_5N.html>

In this case I tend to agree but might explore the scanner assembly, probably
after I get a new printer!
Click to expand...
You might be able to get away with just a (dry) air hose cleaning. The
laser slot is at the top of the printer. Remove the toner cartridge
and you should see the slot. There's no window. Just blow some (dry)
air into the slot and hope that it removes the dust. I would give it
about a 30% chance of success. If not, remove all the plastic outer
case parts. When you get the top off, you should see the laser
scanner assembly. No need to remove it. As I vaguely recall, the top
is held on with one screw and some simple snaps (not sure). Once the
lid is off, clean the haze off the optics and mirrors.

I once had a customer with about 10 laser printers including several
HP5m models. Some of them required cleaning the scanner optics about
twice per year. It took me a while to figure out what happened. They
were using refilled toner cartridges. The cart vendor was applying
stickers onto the cartridge that eventually would just fall off. I
was wondering where the glue went. I eventually suspected that it was
being volatized and was coating the inside of the laser printers,
including the scanner optics. Wiping down the inside of the printer
and finding a thin sticky layer confirmed my guess. I told the
vendor, who initially thought I was nuts, but eventually thanked me
for solving a running mystery.



--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
 
"hr(bob) hofmann@att.net" <hrhofmann@att.net> writes:

On Jan 9, 10:33 am, s...@repairfaq.org (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote:
This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.  It has always been rather light even on maximum dark
settings but is now getting to the point where I'm thinking of actually
buying (gasp!) a new printer.

The symptoms are that thin lines print very light while large areas
are solid black.

The toner cartridge and been replaced with no change.

It's not used very much, mainly for mailing labels and is clean inside.

It seems to me that there use to be settings for darkness in the LJ5 driver
but since upgrading (!!) to XP, they don't appear anymore.  That improved
it a bit, though never as dark as it should be.  But might be enough.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

--

Can you switch to a different type font to keep on using the printer
for a few more months until the toner cartridge finally gives out?
Click to expand...
In some cases that would work but for graphics and stuff like UPS/USPS
on-line mailing, there is no choice as far as I know.

Thanks for looking!

--
sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.

I really hate satisfied customers. It's really bad for my repair biz.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

LaserJet 5

Ok, EX II series printer:
http://www.printerworks.com/Printers/LaserJet_5_5M_5N.html

In this case I tend to agree but might explore the scanner assembly, probably
after I get a new printer!

You might be able to get away with just a (dry) air hose cleaning. The
laser slot is at the top of the printer. Remove the toner cartridge
and you should see the slot. There's no window. Just blow some (dry)
air into the slot and hope that it removes the dust. I would give it
about a 30% chance of success. If not, remove all the plastic outer
case parts. When you get the top off, you should see the laser
scanner assembly. No need to remove it. As I vaguely recall, the top
is held on with one screw and some simple snaps (not sure). Once the
lid is off, clean the haze off the optics and mirrors.

I once had a customer with about 10 laser printers including several
HP5m models. Some of them required cleaning the scanner optics about
twice per year. It took me a while to figure out what happened. They
were using refilled toner cartridges. The cart vendor was applying
stickers onto the cartridge that eventually would just fall off. I
was wondering where the glue went. I eventually suspected that it was
being volatized and was coating the inside of the laser printers,
including the scanner optics. Wiping down the inside of the printer
and finding a thin sticky layer confirmed my guess. I told the
vendor, who initially thought I was nuts, but eventually thanked me
for solving a running mystery.
Click to expand...
OK, well, cleaned the two large lenses with isopropyl, dusted off the scanner
mirrors, blew out the long mirror. Basically, no change.

Time for new piece of junk printer, but that should be adequate for my needs.

Thanks!

--
sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.

Beware of friends bearing free printers.

Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

LaserJet 5
Click to expand...
Sam, I think he's asking:

LaserJet 5M?
LaserJet 5P?
LaserJet 5L?
LaserJet 5N?
or
LaserJet 5Si

<g>
 
PeterD wrote:
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.

Beware of friends bearing free printers.

Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

LaserJet 5


Sam, I think he's asking:

LaserJet 5M?
LaserJet 5P?
LaserJet 5L?
LaserJet 5N?
or
LaserJet 5Si
Click to expand...

The actual model number usually starts with 'C', followed by four
numbers and sometimes another letter on the label with the serial number


--
Greed is the root of all eBay.
 
On 10 Jan 2010 09:42:21 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

OK, well, cleaned the two large lenses with isopropyl, dusted off the scanner
mirrors, blew out the long mirror. Basically, no change.
Click to expand...
Were they obviously dirty?
Did you clean the laser lens?

I don't have an easy way to measure the laser output, but my guess(tm)
is that it's low. I may have a replacement scanner assembly or laser:
<http://www.printerworks.com/Catalogs/EX-Catalog/400EXLaserScanner.html>
I can't check right now as I'm at home.

Time for new piece of junk printer, but that should be adequate for my needs.
Click to expand...
Ask your friend if he has any more free printers.

Here's a photo of my favorite source of free printers:
<http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/e-waste/slides/e-waste01.html>

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
 
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:03:53 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
<mike.terrell@earthlink.net>wrote:

PeterD wrote:

On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.

Beware of friends bearing free printers.

Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

LaserJet 5


Sam, I think he's asking:

LaserJet 5M?
LaserJet 5P?
LaserJet 5L?
LaserJet 5N?
or
LaserJet 5Si


The actual model number usually starts with 'C', followed by four
numbers and sometimes another letter on the label with the serial number
Click to expand...
Does it matter? They all certainly have the same print engine right?

Looks to me like the laser guts are dirty and the optics need cleaned.
 
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:46:55 -0500, PeterD <peter2@hipson.net> wrote:

Sam, I think he's asking:

LaserJet 5M?
LaserJet 5P?
LaserJet 5L?
LaserJet 5N?
or
LaserJet 5Si

g
Click to expand...
I was just trying to be sure about the muddle number. The various
mutations of HP LJ5 are very different printers. There really is a
LaserJet 5 with no suffix (C3916A). It's really a repackaged
LaserJet 4+ with a Canon EX II engine. I've never actually seen one.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
 
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:48:43 -0500, Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net>
wrote:

The actual model number usually starts with 'C', followed by four
numbers and sometimes another letter on the label with the serial number

Does it matter? They all certainly have the same print engine right?
Click to expand...
The various "5" models have quite different guts, engines, and model
unique problems. The 5, 5M, and 5N use EX II engines. The 5P is a VX
engine. The 5Si is a WX engine.
<http://www.printerworks.com/Catalogs/LaserJets.html>

Looks to me like the laser guts are dirty and the optics need cleaned.
Click to expand...
He tried that, with no success. That leaves low laser output. It's
rare, but I've seen it with heavily used EX engines. It's also
possible that the laser is somehow otto focus. That might explain the
light thin lines for characters, while large areas are normally black.
Hard to tell from here.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
 
Meat Plow wrote:
Michael A. Terrell wrote:

The actual model number usually starts with 'C', followed by four
numbers and sometimes another letter on the label with the serial number

Does it matter? They all certainly have the same print engine right?
Click to expand...

No, they don't.


Looks to me like the laser guts are dirty and the optics need cleaned.
Click to expand...

One of several possibilities. That's like claiming every defective
piece of electronic equipment only needs to be plugged in.


--
Greed is the root of all eBay.
 
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:58:49 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
<mike.terrell@earthlink.net>wrote:

Meat Plow wrote:

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

The actual model number usually starts with 'C', followed by four
numbers and sometimes another letter on the label with the serial number

Does it matter? They all certainly have the same print engine right?


No, they don't.
Click to expand...
Ah ok so a 5/5n/5blaha have different engines. Gotcha.

Looks to me like the laser guts are dirty and the optics need cleaned.


One of several possibilities. That's like claiming every defective
piece of electronic equipment only needs to be plugged in.
Click to expand...
Yeah pretty stupid that alll the 5x printers I've worked needed just a
cleaning. I'm sure you've worked on tens of thousands of the fuckers
hell you probably designed and built them yourself right?
 
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:17:34 -0800, Jeff Liebermann
<jeffl@cruzio.com>wrote:

On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:48:43 -0500, Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net
wrote:

The actual model number usually starts with 'C', followed by four
numbers and sometimes another letter on the label with the serial number

Does it matter? They all certainly have the same print engine right?

The various "5" models have quite different guts, engines, and model
unique problems. The 5, 5M, and 5N use EX II engines. The 5P is a VX
engine. The 5Si is a WX engine.
http://www.printerworks.com/Catalogs/LaserJets.html
Click to expand...
Never had to crack open a P or Si. By the time the 4's were ready to
be canned for the 5's we recommended the 5M for those still printing
from Novell on coax or the 5N for those we weaned off coax onto
twisted pair.

Looks to me like the laser guts are dirty and the optics need cleaned.

He tried that, with no success. That leaves low laser output. It's
rare, but I've seen it with heavily used EX engines. It's also
possible that the laser is somehow otto focus. That might explain the
light thin lines for characters, while large areas are normally black.
Hard to tell from here.
Click to expand...
We had spare parts on the van including the optical box. Was easy to
sub for trouble shooting after the warranty expired. Since most of
these 5's were in industrial complexes and factories 99% of the
problems were cloudy lenses, prisms and the occasional white out fluid
on the long output lens.
 
PeterD <peter2@hipson.net> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, sam@repairfaq.org (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote:

This printer has served me well for several years since inheriting it
from a friend.

Beware of friends bearing free printers.

Yes, well, it has been adeqaute for my needs.

Is it an HP 5M, 5P, 5L, 5N, or 5Si. They're all quite different.

LaserJet 5


Sam, I think he's asking:

LaserJet 5M?
LaserJet 5P?
LaserJet 5L?
LaserJet 5N?
or
LaserJet 5Si
Click to expand...
C3916A

--
sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
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