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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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Light printing on LJ5
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. |
#3
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Light printing on LJ5
Jeff Liebermann writes:
On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, (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 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 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. 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. Off. Any suggestions appreciated. Get a new (used) printer. 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 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#4
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Light printing on LJ5
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (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. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#5
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Light printing on LJ5
Jeff Liebermann writes:
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (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. 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. |
#6
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Light printing on LJ5
On 10 Jan 2010 09:42:21 -0500, (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. 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. 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 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#7
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Light printing on LJ5
On 10 Jan 2010 09:42:21 -0500, (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote: Jeff Liebermann writes: On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (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. 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! FWIW, I got, off of eBay, a really nice Xerox 5400 40 PPM duplex laser printer the other day. Incredible performance, had about 33K copies on the counter. Price? Well, 49.95, and I was able to pick it up and save on shipping. I didn't complain about the fact it came with a brand new toner cartridge, either. I still laugh whenever I look at it. bg There are some good deals on higher quality printers right now, as companies either upgrade, or go out of business. |
#8
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Light printing on LJ5
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (Samuel M.
Goldwasser) wrote: Jeff Liebermann writes: On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, (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 g |
#9
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Light printing on LJ5
PeterD wrote: On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote: Jeff Liebermann writes: On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, (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 -- Greed is the root of all eBay. |
#10
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Light printing on LJ5
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:48:43 -0500, Meat Plow
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 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. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#11
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Light printing on LJ5
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. 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. -- Greed is the root of all eBay. |
#12
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Light printing on LJ5
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:48:43 -0500, Meat Plow
wrote: On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:03:53 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell" wrote: PeterD wrote: On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote: Jeff Liebermann writes: On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, (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 Does it matter? They all certainly have the same print engine right? Nope. Some are totally different. Looks to me like the laser guts are dirty and the optics need cleaned. |
#13
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Light printing on LJ5
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:46:55 -0500, PeterD wrote:
Sam, I think he's asking: LaserJet 5M? LaserJet 5P? LaserJet 5L? LaserJet 5N? or LaserJet 5Si g 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 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#14
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Light printing on LJ5
PeterD writes:
On 09 Jan 2010 19:43:17 -0500, (Samuel M. Goldwasser) wrote: Jeff Liebermann writes: On 09 Jan 2010 11:33:25 -0500, (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 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. |
#15
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Light printing on LJ5
Samuel M. Goldwasser wrote in message
... 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. Damp paper ? Try passing some sheets through the system, so heated by fuser roller, and then passing through again the other way up |
#16
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Light printing on LJ5
On Jan 9, 8:33*am, (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. |
#17
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Light printing on LJ5
On Sat, 9 Jan 2010 12:21:44 -0800 (PST), whit3rd
wrote: On Jan 9, 8:33*am, (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. Roger all that, if it is a 5L. |
#18
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Light printing on LJ5
On Jan 9, 10:33*am, (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.. 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? |
#19
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Light printing on LJ5
"hr(bob) " writes:
On Jan 9, 10:33*am, (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? 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. |
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