Unsolvable problems?

[theengel]

As an independent tech, I have no backup. When the machine is broke, it's up to me to figure out why. Generally, it's not a problem. If I can't figure it out, I search online, post here, etc.,. Every now and then, I get one I just can't fix.

Last year, I was doing some third party work (I've since stopped doing third party work). I was dealing with a Gestetner, and we pretty much replaced every major component in the machine. If I hadn't been doing contract work, I probably would have walked away from the job long before I actually did. I think I made 13 visits all together. I finally called the company who had hired me told them I was done--I was just out of ideas.

I really hated that. It felt like I was getting a divorce or something. Complete and utter failure.

But there have been other close calls. And on the flip side, it's really nice to solve a problem that's been bugging me for more than two weeks.

About half my work is on smaller machines ($1500 or less), so it's easy for me to say, "You probably need a new board, and it might be cheaper to replace the machine." But you can't do that when a machine is going to cost more than $1500 to replace.

How about you guys? Ever have one you just COULDN'T fix?

[Hansoon]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

Very, very rarely. I'm an Indy too and had perhaps only twice to Throw the Towel in over decades..

Hans

[davidj7]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

I am a jobber and I fix my own machines.I had to scrap a Xerox DC5252 because it kept spilling developer from magenta(it was over 3 years ago but i still remeber ). I replaced the Developer unit HVT anything and everything I could think of . Finally replaced it with a DC5000.

I still hold the scrap machine I have no idea why.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

I've had to give up on perhaps 5 or 6 machines over the years. The most interesting was a bizhub C284e that had a little fire the same day it was installed. The front main PWB flared up and burned a spot on the frame, and man did it stink! It was three days until the smell went away in their copy room. =^..^=

[davidj7]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

how on earth did you start a fire on a new machine?. Ive had couple of Canon NP6060 back in the day catching fire because of damage to fuser connectors. after clearing any jams they wouldnt mind if they had little dificulty when the fuser dosent go in .The give it a good whack........... Never had to trash the machine cause of fire.

[theengel]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

Haha--I started a fire on a NP6030, way back when. I forgot to pull my cheater out of the door and reached in to wipe off the paper guide leading to the fuser. The rag had belt cleaner on it--highly flammable. The rag hit the fuser thermal fuse, sparked, and flamed. I pulled it out, threw it on the floor, and stomped it out.

What sucks was, the customer was there watching the entire thing.

I said, "Well, I guess I found the problem." That was probably my best cover-up for a mistake ever. Generally I just get tongue tied and admit I screwed up.

[ZOOTECH]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

Haha--I started a fire on a NP6030, way back when. I forgot to pull my cheater out of the door and reached in to wipe off the paper guide leading to the fuser. The rag had belt cleaner on it--highly flammable. The rag hit the fuser thermal fuse, sparked, and flamed. I pulled it out, threw it on the floor, and stomped it out.

What sucks was, the customer was there watching the entire thing.

I said, "Well, I guess I found the problem." That was probably my best cover-up for a mistake ever. Generally I just get tongue tied and admit I screwed up.

Nice work!!!

[Rvale]

[Iowatech]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

I've had to give up on perhaps 5 or 6 machines over the years. The most interesting was a bizhub C284e that had a little fire the same day it was installed. The front main PWB flared up and burned a spot on the frame, and man did it stink! It was three days until the smell went away in their copy room. =^..^=

Heh, back in the day I had a call on an old Lanier 5025 where the toner motor seized and the current overdraw caused the driver chip on the IOB to overheat and burn. When I got to the place they had pushed the machine out into the parking lot because it smelled so bad, and they would only let me push the machine into the entryway of the building to work on it. The cone of carbon on the IOB board made it quite clear which chip had self destructed.
For reference, according to my model equivalence sheet, the Lanier 5025 is the same as the Ricoh 250.
For unsolvable problems, I guess the one that bothers me the most was on a newer Ricoh 3228c where the touch panel was dead. Compared to the earlier color machines that I'd worked on which will remain unnamed, the 3228c series was awesome, and I really wanted to fix that. I replaced the touch panel components, and even the wiring harness that went through the optics area. Nothing worked. Then as I was probably still in the Reserves, I probably had to go to Annual Training, and the call was handed over to another tech. When I got back, that machine was in the shop still in a non operative status, and every time I saw it it grated on my nerves.
Crap, now I'm pissed off about that again. Excuse me, I need to go get a beer and settle down.

[slimslob]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

Then as I was probably still in the Reserves, I probably had to go to Annual Training, and the call was handed over to another tech. When I got back, that machine was in the shop still in a non operative status, and every time I saw it it grated on my nerves.
Crap, now I'm pissed off about that again. Excuse me, I need to go get a beer and settle down.

Ah yes. Annual training. I remember that. The time of the year when the other techs would set the trouble machines aside for when you got back.

[theengel]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

Crap, now I'm pissed off about that again.

I still hold the scrap machine I have no idea why.

I really hated that. It felt like I was getting a divorce or something. Complete and utter failure.

So I'm not the only one who takes it so personal.

[Zackuth]

Re: Unsolvable problems?

There was one I remember, a KM2560 that had a red shift in the color scanning. Played around with settings, bought the chart and did that adjustment, changed boards and formatted the hard drive (then spent the next 4 hours getting the machine working correctly again) and a Tech Rep and I changed all the scanner related hardware to include all cables, mirrors, and glass. Nothing worked. The customer got a long term loaner.