Lanier LD228C (=Ricoh AF2282?) Overtoning

[blackcat4866]

I've got a Lanier LD228C in my area that is giving all the signs of overtoning. I'm getting comet-trails of toner falling on the transfer belt in the four colors CMYK, and light background, especially magenta & cyan.

I was out last month to replace the drums which were at 200% of life. The machine would not complete the color registration (sorry, I don't remember the message). And I got a SC285 which cleared.

I haven't worked on many color Ricohs. Most of my experience is on B&W and from a few years ago (AF700, AF1045). I need a crash course in Ricoh color theory.

If this was a Sharp I would run sim 25-1 and observe toner sensor output. If this was a Copystar I'd go to sim 131-Auto to view the toner sensor target versus last reading. How about Ricoh? 3-006 Vcnt, 3-007 Vcnt, 3-120 Gamma Target, 3-121 Gamma Display, 3-122 Vk Display, 3-123 Vref Display, 3-910 Vmin, 3-911, Vt Current Display? Am I getting warm yet?

How can I tell which color developing units are overtoning, and what is the expected readings from which service modes, and what copy count/lifespan? =^..^=

[GhostInTheMachine]

You can use sp5990-004 to print out the log. It will tell you how much life is on the dv units. If the drums were at 200% I would expect the dv units need replacing also.

As far as the color reg error, it is usually a dirty roller on the transfer unit. The transfer belt is clear and the sensors look through it so if the metal roller underneath is dirty it throws off the sensors.

[blackcat4866]

Thanks Ghost, for the hint on the color registration error. I did notice spots of black gunk on the drive roller through the transfer belt. I don't know if it matters, but the belt is not so translucent any more. =^..^=

[blackcat4866]

Cleaning up the transfer idler rollers cleared up the problem with color registration. The chrome roller at the left and the sensors next to it were covered in toner.While I had the transfer belt out I vacuumed up 13mm of magenta toner off the mylar at the right of the transfer belt. After only a couple dozen copies, that pile of magenta toner is back. The color developing units are only at 60% but so overtoned that they are unusable, all of them. I get magenta smudges at 28.6mm intervals, which appears to be the 9.09mm diameter of the rubber roller above the transfer belt, and under that mylar buried in toner.

So far as I can tell there is nothing left to do but order up the color developing units. =^..^=

[GhostInTheMachine]

Sounds like you are on the right track. I have had the dv units go bad prematurely on low volume boxes but usually they go way past the pm cycle. Definitely sounds like they need replacing though.