How are printer overhauls done?

Sent it to some central location?

Local guys subcontracting for computer stores?

Users are on their own?

I've got an HP 4000 whose rollers are gone and which is printing
grey stripes on the output. The rollers I can live with. The
grey stripes are eventually going tb a problem with printing
checks that have tb scanned by banks/clearing houses.
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
How are printer overhauls done?

Sent it to some central location?

Local guys subcontracting for computer stores?

Users are on their own?

I've got an HP 4000 whose rollers are gone and which is printing
grey stripes on the output. The rollers I can live with. The
grey stripes are eventually going tb a problem with printing
checks that have tb scanned by banks/clearing houses.

That's an easy printer to maintain. Print a test page to find out how
many pages are on it. Rollers are mostly tool-less for replacement.
There are lots of places you can get parts and supplies for those
printers. I've used printerworks.com and feedroller.com. Both of those
have online parts references.

As for the stripes, that could be several things. The easiest test is
swapping the toner cartridge. Well, easy if you have a spare cartridge.
If you don't, look for a local toner refill place that might let you use
a test cartridge.

The type and spacing of the stripes can identify what is causing them.

--
Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
How are printer overhauls done?

Sent it to some central location?

Local guys subcontracting for computer stores?

Users are on their own?

I've got an HP 4000 whose rollers are gone and which is printing
grey stripes on the output. The rollers I can live with. The
grey stripes are eventually going tb a problem with printing
checks that have tb scanned by banks/clearing houses.

Are the stripes *down* the page or *across*?

Per Jeff Liebermann:
AS you may have noted from my comments and from
some of the other questions, your description of the strip is
inadequate. I can't tell from here if the fuser is good, bad, or just
plain dirty.

When I get home from work, I'll post a scan.
--
PeteCresswell

On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:29:41 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Per Jeff Liebermann:
AS you may have noted from my comments and from
some of the other questions, your description of the strip is
inadequate. I can't tell from here if the fuser is good, bad, or just
plain dirty.

When I get home from work, I'll post a scan.

This might be useful:
"Laser printer print defects"
http://www.printertechs.com/tech/print-defects/print-defects-index.php
I've probably seen most of these (and more).
http://hpmaintenancekit.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/laser-printer-page-defects-common-causes/

Also include the page count (from the self test page).

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Per (PeteCresswell):
When I get home from work, I'll post a scan.

Scan wasn't getting it - contrast issues.

So I snapped a photo.

This is a pretty good representation of the page:
http://tinyurl.com/ykkjvqv
--
PeteCresswell

On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:05:53 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

This is a pretty good representation of the page:
http://tinyurl.com/ykkjvqv

Yech. My guess(tm) is that there's toner and crud everywhere, mostly
in the transfer roller. It's not repetative so it's either coming
from multiple filthy rollers. If it were an electronics or laser
scanner failure, it would print black or white, not gray.

See:
http://www.printertechs.com/tech/repdef/ruler4000.php
See if you can match up the pattern. There's a better copy of the
page in the HP4000 manual.

I'm not getting decent answers to my questions, so I'll try again,
this time in detail, with a few additions. In the future, the more
information you supply about the symptoms, condition, situation,
history, and diagnostics run, the easier it is to diagnose.

1. How many pages are on the printer test page?
http://www.mlsd.net/helpdesk/docs/hp4000.pdf

2. Are there any stripes on the *BACK* of the page?

3. Is there toner all over the inside of the printer? Have you been
using refilled toner cartridges, which are often overfilled with
toner, and dump toner everywhere? Have you moved the printer with the
toner cart still inside? Is there loose toner on the paper that
smears off when you rub it with your finger? If you're not sure if
there's toner all over the printer, just take a piece of towel paper,
add some alcohol, and wipe the black plastic area under the fuser.
Stay away from the transfer roller. If the rag comes out black, it's
toner.

4. Is this with a new toner cartridge? Have you tried a different
toner cartridge? Did the stripes start when you replaced the toner
cartridge?

5. Are you using MICR toner? Just curious as I've noticed that it
tends to make a bigger mess than ordinary toner.

6. Have you inspected the fuser assembly?
http://www.imagingsupplies.com/fuser-assembly-instructions/HP_4000_FUSER.pdf

7. Do you have an air compressor? If so, use it (outside the house).

I'm still recommending wholesale replacement of the rubber parts and a
general cleaning.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

Per Jeff Liebermann:

This is a pretty good representation of the page:
http://tinyurl.com/ykkjvqv

Yech. My guess(tm) is that there's toner and crud everywhere, mostly
in the transfer roller. It's not repetative so it's either coming
from multiple filthy rollers. If it were an electronics or laser
scanner failure, it would print black or white, not gray.

Rings true to me. Dunno when I bought the printer, but it
must've been at least 10 years ago and it's never, ever been
serviced or had the toner cartridge replaced. It's for home use
and I don't print all that much.


1. How many pages are on the printer test page?
http://www.mlsd.net/helpdesk/docs/hp4000.pdf

I don't see a "Test Page" in the menu map - except for "PRINT
PAPER PATH TEST" which produces one page.

There is a "PRINT CONFIGURATION" which produces two pages: one
for the printer and one for the JetDirect card.


2. Are there any stripes on the *BACK* of the page?

Yes, but very faint - maybe 5% of what's on the front.

3. Is there toner all over the inside of the printer? Have you been
using refilled toner cartridges, which are often overfilled with
toner, and dump toner everywhere? Have you moved the printer with the
toner cart still inside? Is there loose toner on the paper that
smears off when you rub it with your finger? If you're not sure if
there's toner all over the printer, just take a piece of towel paper,
add some alcohol, and wipe the black plastic area under the fuser.
Stay away from the transfer roller. If the rag comes out black, it's
toner.

Original toner cart. Can't recall if the printer's been moved.

Gotta find out what the fuser looks like. The pics and text in
/HP_4000_FUSER.pdf arent' getting it for me. Not enough def in
the pix and the text isn't enough. This is a valuable
exercise, though. Before I guy any kit, I'll review the
instructions first to see if they're clear enough.

I wouldn't say toner is "all over" by any means, but there is
some on one of the rollers - which, when I eyeball it, looks
suspiciously like the pattern on the pages. I *think* it's the
transfer roller.


4. Is this with a new toner cartridge? Have you tried a different
toner cartridge? Did the stripes start when you replaced the toner
cartridge?

5. Are you using MICR toner? Just curious as I've noticed that it
tends to make a bigger mess than ordinary toner.

6. Have you inspected the fuser assembly?
http://www.imagingsupplies.com/fuser-assembly-instructions/HP_4000_FUSER.pdf

7. Do you have an air compressor? If so, use it (outside the house).

I'm still recommending wholesale replacement of the rubber parts and a
general cleaning.

I'm a believer: Replace everything except maybe the fuser and
blow it all clean while doing the replacements.

Thanks for the help. You have de-mystified this issue for me.
--
PeteCresswell

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:21:15 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Rings true to me. Dunno when I bought the printer, but it
must've been at least 10 years ago and it's never, ever been
serviced or had the toner cartridge replaced. It's for home use
and I don't print all that much.

You don't have to do much printing to dump toner all over the printer.
Just moving it around with the toner cartridge inserted will do that.

1. How many pages are on the printer test page?
http://www.mlsd.net/helpdesk/docs/hp4000.pdf

I don't see a "Test Page" in the menu map - except for "PRINT
PAPER PATH TEST" which produces one page.

There is a "PRINT CONFIGURATION" which produces two pages: one
for the printer and one for the JetDirect card.

See the title on the above PDF page. It how to print a configuration
page. You've done that. Congrats. Now, please read the first page
and kindly disclose how many pages your printer has run.

2. Are there any stripes on the *BACK* of the page?

Yes, but very faint - maybe 5% of what's on the front.

That's enough. There's toner all over the transfer roller and
probably the red rubber roller in the fuser assembly. Cleanup time.

3. Is there toner all over the inside of the printer? Have you been
using refilled toner cartridges, which are often overfilled with
toner, and dump toner everywhere? Have you moved the printer with the
toner cart still inside? Is there loose toner on the paper that
smears off when you rub it with your finger? If you're not sure if
there's toner all over the printer, just take a piece of towel paper,
add some alcohol, and wipe the black plastic area under the fuser.
Stay away from the transfer roller. If the rag comes out black, it's
toner.

Original toner cart. Can't recall if the printer's been moved.

Original? How many pages has your printer test page show?

Gotta find out what the fuser looks like. The pics and text in
/HP_4000_FUSER.pdf arent' getting it for me. Not enough def in
the pix and the text isn't enough. This is a valuable
exercise, though. Before I guy any kit, I'll review the
instructions first to see if they're clear enough.

Those instructions are about as clear as you're going to find. I'll
see if I can find something better or with larger images, but for now,
that all there is.

I wouldn't say toner is "all over" by any means, but there is
some on one of the rollers - which, when I eyeball it, looks
suspiciously like the pattern on the pages. I *think* it's the
transfer roller.

The transfer roller is directly under the toner cartridge. Keep your
finger oils off the foam. Only handle my the metal ends.

4. Is this with a new toner cartridge? Have you tried a different
toner cartridge? Did the stripes start when you replaced the toner
cartridge?

5. Are you using MICR toner? Just curious as I've noticed that it
tends to make a bigger mess than ordinary toner.

6. Have you inspected the fuser assembly?
http://www.imagingsupplies.com/fuser-assembly-instructions/HP_4000_FUSER.pdf

7. Do you have an air compressor? If so, use it (outside the house).

I'm still recommending wholesale replacement of the rubber parts and a
general cleaning.

I'm a believer: Replace everything except maybe the fuser and
blow it all clean while doing the replacements.

Thanks for the help. You have de-mystified this issue for me.

I'm beginning to think you may be out of your depth. You're not
answering my questions, you seem reluctant to volunteer info, and the
few answers you supply are unrelated to the question. I'm trying to
save you the cost of a fuser replacement, but without info, I can only
guess. I give up. I suggest you send the printer to a professional
HP repair service shop or hire someone with experience to do the job.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:21:15 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Original toner cart.

Also, if this really is a 10 year old toner cartridge, methinks it
might also be a problem. Toner is somewhat hygroscopic and will
absorb a little moisture from the air. The result is caking and
packing inside the cartridge, resulting in anything from blotchy
printing, difficulties feeding, and occasionally a scratched drum
surface. That's why they're sealed in air and light tight aluminum
foil bags. Shakeing and heat drying does work but takes a while.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Per Jeff Liebermann:

See the title on the above PDF page. It how to print a configuration
page. You've done that. Congrats. Now, please read the first page
and kindly disclose how many pages your printer has run.

Page Count: 9680
Pages Since Last Maintenance = 9680

2. Are there any stripes on the *BACK* of the page?

Yes, but very faint - maybe 5% of what's on the front.

That's enough. There's toner all over the transfer roller and
probably the red rubber roller in the fuser assembly. Cleanup time.

Those instructions are about as clear as you're going to find. I'll
see if I can find something better or with larger images, but for now,
that all there is.

I wouldn't say toner is "all over" by any means, but there is
some on one of the rollers - which, when I eyeball it, looks
suspiciously like the pattern on the pages. I *think* it's the
transfer roller.

The transfer roller is directly under the toner cartridge. Keep your
finger oils off the foam. Only handle my the metal ends.

4. Is this with a new toner cartridge? Have you tried a different
toner cartridge? Did the stripes start when you replaced the toner
cartridge?

Thanks for the help. You have de-mystified this issue for me.

I'm beginning to think you may be out of your depth. You're not
answering my questions, you seem reluctant to volunteer info, and the
few answers you supply are unrelated to the question.

"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by
misunderstanding, stupidity, or incompetence."

Not reluctant, probably out of my depth.

I write software for a living... so I'm not dumb or, at least,
not *too* dumb. Incompetent in the context of printers: for
sure.

But thanks for all the effort you've contributed.

Once I get to end-game, I'll let everybody know how it came out -
not that anybody probably cares... but it seems like the right
thing to do.
--
PeteCresswell

On Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:41:27 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Page Count: 9680
Pages Since Last Maintenance = 9680

That's almost nothing for these printers. The HP LJ4000 should go for
at least 100K pages or more. However, the toner cartridge is
officially rated at 6000 pages (or 10,000 pages if you believe the
refillers who tend to overfill the cartridges). Either way, you're
overdue for a cartridge replacement. It's also possible that ONE of
the sources of the smear is the cartridge. I can't tell for sure
because of the non-repetative nature of the test page.

"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by
misunderstanding, stupidity, or incompetence."

No malice ever even suggested. However, I can't tell if you are able,
willing, qualified, or interested in doing the work yourself. It's
really not that difficult. The document I previously found describes
all of the important steps:
http://www.imagingsupplies.com/fuser-assembly-instructions/HP_4000_FUSER.pdf
Once you have it disassembled, hit with an air hose (outside) to clean
out the loose toner. Make sure there's no rusty water in the
compressor tank (my favorite mistake). With only 10K pages, the
rubber parts might still be ok. Clean with just ordinary household
cleaner (e.g. 409) and dry.

Not reluctant, probably out of my depth.

Yep. Of course, you could treat this as a learning experience.
Perhaps a manual will be helpful?
http://www.feedroller.com/Store/Service%20Manual/LASERJET%204000,%204000N,%204000T,%204000TN%20Serv ice%20Manual.pdf
http://www.hylink.com/web/LaserJet%204000,%204050%20Service%20Manual.pdf

I write software for a living... so I'm not dumb or, at least,
not *too* dumb. Incompetent in the context of printers: for
sure.

I avoid programming at all costs.

But thanks for all the effort you've contributed.

Once I get to end-game, I'll let everybody know how it came out -
not that anybody probably cares... but it seems like the right
thing to do.

Start with "I saved $xxx.xx by rebuilding my own laser printer.


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558