Streaky Laser Printer Toner Cartridges

[Terry Collins]

I've posted this question here because I think there might be electonics
element or some people here might have repaired a laser printer with
this problem.

Lately I seem to be pestered with streaky printing from laser printers.
A mate brought in a HP4M that was streaky on any toner cartridge used in
it, but the cartridges performed well in another HP4M.

So, I took the machine apart and gave it a good vacuum out (clean up)
and wiggle of cables and that improved things because the streaks now
took 20 pages to appear, instead of 4 pages.

I was also investigating whether there might be a few capacitors that
could be replaced to see if they were playing a part. There were three
electro caps on three different boards and that was it.

Now the disease has spread to my HP5si (don't put sick printers near
good printers).

Does anyone have any ideas based on experience?

 

[Russ]

"Terry Collins" <terryc@woa.com.au> wrote in message
news:40B52F42.2B029B58@woa.com.au...

Lately I seem to be pestered with streaky printing from laser printers.
A mate brought in a HP4M that was streaky on any toner cartridge used in
it, but the cartridges performed well in another HP4M.

Every time I've seen streaks and the like it has been an issue with the drum
being old or generally beaten up, or something in the paper path, like
sticky or damaged fuser rollers. I wouldn't have thought it would have
anything to do with the electronics/laser part.

Russ.

 

[atec]

Cleaner blade or erase charge wire needs replacement.

Terry Collins wrote:

I've posted this question here because I think there might be electonics
element or some people here might have repaired a laser printer with
this problem.

Lately I seem to be pestered with streaky printing from laser printers.
A mate brought in a HP4M that was streaky on any toner cartridge used in
it, but the cartridges performed well in another HP4M.

So, I took the machine apart and gave it a good vacuum out (clean up)
and wiggle of cables and that improved things because the streaks now
took 20 pages to appear, instead of 4 pages.

I was also investigating whether there might be a few capacitors that
could be replaced to see if they were playing a part. There were three
electro caps on three different boards and that was it.

Now the disease has spread to my HP5si (don't put sick printers near
good printers).

Does anyone have any ideas based on experience?

 

[John Tserkezis]

Terry Collins wrote:

Does anyone have any ideas based on experience?

Need more details.

What is the _exact_ nature of the 'streaks' (what do they look like)?
Are they black streaks?
Are they white (lack of toner) streaks?
Are they not clearly defined (blurry streaks)?
Are they sharp streaks?
What do the streaks feel like? (run your fingers over the paper)
Do the streaks occur in the same place, and in the same manner when the toner
cartridge has been changed?
What type of toner cartridges are you using? New? Used? Recycled?
How many pages have the printers done?
Do the printer(s) use separate drum and toner cartridges?
When were the printers last serviced?
--
Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>

 

[Terry Collins]

John Tserkezis wrote:

Terry Collins wrote:

Does anyone have any ideas based on experience?

Need more details.

What is the _exact_ nature of the 'streaks' (what do they look like)?
Are they black streaks?
Are they white (lack of toner) streaks?
Are they not clearly defined (blurry streaks)?
Are they sharp streaks?
What do the streaks feel like? (run your fingers over the paper)

They look like oil stains in a band. I can not feel any thing. They are
coming from the toner cartridge in both cases.

Do the streaks occur in the same place, and in the same manner when the toner
cartridge has been changed?

For the 4M, yes, exactly. The stains on the 4M increase in coverage.
That is obviously the machine because the same two cartridges
(recycled/refurbished and HP new) give the same pattern in this machine,
but are no problem in another 4M.

For the HP5si, no. It varies with the cartridge. One is about 50% empty
and the other is a new cartridge. Both are recycled/refurbished
cartridges.

What type of toner cartridges are you using? New? Used? Recycled?
How many pages have the printers done?
Do the printer(s) use separate drum and toner cartridges?

Nope, both combined.

When were the printers last serviced?

The 4M is a $50 auction buy and has done 23,069 pages. Service? you jest
{.

The HP5si is a $700 second hard one and has done 601,392 pages. It says
it has done 235,564 pages since last maintenance. Given that a service
is going to cost $400-$500 + parts, it is highly unlikely to get one,
unless it is done by me.

 

[timbo]

In article <40B686F9.E627DBDD@woa.com.au>, Terry Collins wrote:

John Tserkezis wrote:

Terry Collins wrote:

Does anyone have any ideas based on experience?

Need more details.

What is the _exact_ nature of the 'streaks' (what do they look like)?
Are they black streaks?
Are they white (lack of toner) streaks?
Are they not clearly defined (blurry streaks)?
Are they sharp streaks?
What do the streaks feel like? (run your fingers over the paper)

They look like oil stains in a band. I can not feel any thing. They are
coming from the toner cartridge in both cases.

Do the streaks occur in the same place, and in the same manner when the toner
cartridge has been changed?

For the 4M, yes, exactly. The stains on the 4M increase in coverage.
That is obviously the machine because the same two cartridges
(recycled/refurbished and HP new) give the same pattern in this machine,
but are no problem in another 4M.

are the streaks vertical or horizontal?

For the HP5si, no. It varies with the cartridge. One is about 50% empty
and the other is a new cartridge. Both are recycled/refurbished
cartridges.


What type of toner cartridges are you using? New? Used? Recycled?
How many pages have the printers done?
Do the printer(s) use separate drum and toner cartridges?

Nope, both combined.
When were the printers last serviced?

The 4M is a $50 auction buy and has done 23,069 pages. Service? you jest
{.

that's practically new then

The HP5si is a $700 second hard one and has done 601,392 pages. It says
it has done 235,564 pages since last maintenance. Given that a service
is going to cost $400-$500 + parts, it is highly unlikely to get one,
unless it is done by me.

you can buy maintenance kits from HP which generally include a fuser, paper
pickup rollers, & a transfer roller. they vary in cost - for a 5Si, might be
something around the $400 mark (don;t quote me on this - you'd have to go to
a HP dealer & find out). since it's done over 200000 pages since last
maintenance, it's probably time to get a maintenance kit..

cheers,

tc.
..

 

[Terry Collins]

timbo wrote:

...snip.....

For the 4M, yes, exactly. The stains on the 4M increase in coverage.
That is obviously the machine because the same two cartridges
(recycled/refurbished and HP new) give the same pattern in this machine,
but are no problem in another 4M.

are the streaks vertical or horizontal?

They are actually horizontal on the paper, which I guess means they are
vertical in your question as the HP5si printa an A4 paper in landscape
(sideways {.

...snip.....

The HP5si is a $700 second hard one and has done 601,392 pages. It says
it has done 235,564 pages since last maintenance. Given that a service
is going to cost $400-$500 + parts, it is highly unlikely to get one,
unless it is done by me.

you can buy maintenance kits from HP which generally include a fuser, paper
pickup rollers, & a transfer roller. they vary in cost - for a 5Si, might be
something around the $400 mark (don;t quote me on this - you'd have to go to
a HP dealer & find out). since it's done over 200000 pages since last
maintenance, it's probably time to get a maintenance kit..

Okay, I will chase that up. Having just disassembled much of the HP5si a
couple of days ago to give it a thorough vacuum out, I don't see that as
too much of a problem. Although I couldn't work out how to release the
fuser assembly (two blue levers come down, but nothing budges), it is
worth considering as the duplex capacity is hard to come by.

cheers,

thanks.

 

[Alex Gibson]

"Terry Collins" <terryc@woa.com.au> wrote in message
news:40B6C342.3512EA1F@woa.com.au...

you can buy maintenance kits from HP which generally include a fuser,
paper
pickup rollers, & a transfer roller. they vary in cost - for a 5Si,
might be
something around the $400 mark (don;t quote me on this - you'd have to
go to
a HP dealer & find out). since it's done over 200000 pages since last
maintenance, it's probably time to get a maintenance kit..

Okay, I will chase that up. Having just disassembled much of the HP5si a
couple of days ago to give it a thorough vacuum out, I don't see that as
too much of a problem. Although I couldn't work out how to release the
fuser assembly (two blue levers come down, but nothing budges), it is
worth considering as the duplex capacity is hard to come by.

http://h61003.www6.hp.com/ljkits.htm
HP Spares Central
Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd
Phone: 1300 301 099
Fax: 1300 132 961
E-mail: spareparts@hp.com
Web: http://www.hp.com.au/sparescentral/