MPC 2503 Toner end even after new toner fitted

[copier tech]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can help here

I have an mpc2503 that last month had a failed black dev unit (gears stripped). This was replaced with a new one & correctly initialised etc.

Now a week later the machine asked for toner to be replaced even though the bottle was 3/4 full, customer replaced with a new toner & after a minute the message wont clear.

I have been out to the machine & can see the bottle is turning as is the PCDU, if I temporarily turn off toner detect in SP mode the black prints are faint so indeed the K dev is starved of toner.

Removed the sub hopper all looks fine nothing blocked, firmware all updated, anyone got any ideas pls!?

[davel]

Is there a plug blocking the toner entry to dev unit.

[Mark Bbb]

You write: black dev unit (gears stripped)
What is the reason they where stripped?
I have never had gears stripped on a Ricoh mpc... (mp2000 yes).
So, I think that there is a leak of toner falling onto the dev. gears?
Is it developer that are damaging the gears or other material?

[Imprestik]

When you pull the PCDU out if the dev unit full of toner?

If so....

I think your dev drive gear in your gearbox is sheared thats why the original dev unit gears were wrecked.

Your in for a entire new drive mechanism, what a fun job that is.

In saying that I have done it way to many times on this model

[copier tech]

The old dev failed just due to usage, these 2003/2503 series drum & devs are poorly made and rarely hit their low PM life!
The current dev unit has no toner in it, none in the pipe above.
If the main drive had failed then the drum & dev units would not drive? The machine will copy OK just slightly feint due to lack of toner.
No error codes logged either.

[guitar9199]

If the dev unit has no toner, then my first suspect would be the toner transport motor or sub-hopper for that color. There's a separate bottle drive motor, and toner transport motor on this series.

[copier tech]

I had the back off & saw the bottle drive motor was turning & with the front cover cheated the bottle rotated.

I have ordered the toner hopper as this unit contains the toner end sensor etc.


hopper.jpg

[TonerMunkeh]

Did you vac the hopper out and check the auger?

[Counsel]

Pretty sure the sub hoppers use a plastic coil to auger and work like the old LP143 printers if it gets clogged and binds it destroys that plastic coil and wont feed toner, your hopper is most likely the cause if all other parts seem to be functioning normally.

[1nevster]

Yep. Sub Hopper coil snapped. Order new sub hopper like you said and clean out all system before it from bottle itself and change to a fresh toner from a new batch, or you will probably feed clogged toner back in the new sub hopper and stuff that one too. Clean clean clean before fitting new part. Also check drop down tube that goes underneath it that drops the toner into the dev unit. You'd be amazed how many times this clogs after the mc has a wobbler.