Tips for Techs

[TonerMunkeh]

a fuser rebulid will take 15 minutes if you take your time,it'll take twenty if you rush...

Argh not with an MPC3500 fuser!

I found a good one the other day, rubber cleaner is very good for cleaning MP4000 mag rollers.

[Claudio]

Empty vacuum filter at least once before replacing it (saves money).
In your car stock, carry extra invoices, and technical supplies in you car in case you run out of something out in the field.
Always word your final invoice in such a manner that covers all issues with a machine and a recall is less likely (so if a customer wants to bring you back to their office, they will have to pay for your time).
If you rip one at the customers office, quickly open a bottle of Rubber Rejuvinator (I finally found a use for that stuff).

[OceCarl]

when swapping boards mark the original with a sharpie. also mark unused connectors with a red sharpie. rainex winshield washer fluid works great on copier class. can usually get it for 99cents a gallon at walmart.

[bilyahn]

Clear nail polish to repair smaller drums that develop a bias leak due to wear. This works really well on the smaller Sharp units. Just cover the bare spot that occur on the edge of the drum (outside of the print area) with nail polish let dry and your drum is good until PM time.

[mjunkaged]

One-way bearings/shafts: You can fix them by buffing lenghtwise around the shaft at the spot where the one-way bearing rides. 9 times out of 10 this will fix the problem WITHOUT replacing the one-way OR the shaft! VERY handy.

[mjunkaged]

Lasers unit....polygon motor 'failure'.....

On some of the older lasers, I've been able to crack them apart and clean and lube the polygon mirror motor. I used to use silicon spray oil or standard lube, then when I got into some older lasers, it wouldn't fix it anymore. So I switched to EZ-1 synth lube, and that got it. I imagine any brand of synthetic of a very light weight would work.

Also, tip for ROOKIES:
The biggest mistake I see rookies making is either not learning, or not remembering the three "I's" of technical troubleshooting.
1. IDENTIFY....see blackcat's post. Listen, think, observe, ask questions, make SURE you know exactly WHAT the problem is! (most get this first one). ALSO, look for other problems, the customer is not the tech. and can not see things you can with a trained eye.
2. ISOLATE.... this is where many new tech's get stuck. They don't know how to go about isolating subassemblies, removing options, etc. to find out where the problem truly originates. A read-through of the service manual should be required for each model worked on. You can't easily fix things unless you have an understanding of HOW THEY WORK.
3. INITIATE.....after 1 and 2 are complete. Sometimes concurrent with #2, but almost NEVER with #1. Also includes thorough testing of the machine's functions when you think you're done. If I had a nickel for every time I've said, "glad I checked that BEFORE I left" I'd have a drum full of nickels.

[krazeekidz3]

Hey, just wondering why you shouldn't vacuum out a developing unit on a Konica? Does this go for the Konica Minolta, as well? I always vacuumed the developing unit on a Canon box. I've only been working on the KM boxes for a few months. That wasn't in the Outward Associate training program.
Thanks! Everyone, I enjoyed some of these wonderful tips!!

[blackcat4866]

I don't know about Konica, but on Canon developing units you can blow the toner sensor by vacuuming too close to them.

There are two things you can do:
1) Keep a thumb or finger of the other hand touching the mag roller the whole time you're vacuuming. Sure you'll feel some shocks, but nothing fatal.
2) Don't vacuum right next to the toner sensor.

=^..^=

[fixthecopier]

Hey, just wondering why you shouldn't vacuum out a developing unit on a Konica? Does this go for the Konica Minolta, as well? I always vacuumed the developing unit on a Canon box. I've only been working on the KM boxes for a few months. That wasn't in the Outward Associate training program.
Thanks! Everyone, I enjoyed some of these wonderful tips!!

On the Konica's the vacuum will blow the aidc sensor. Real bad on 470's. If you have an old dv box, hold it and vacuum it and you should get a shock. That same discharge is hell on the sensors. You can get paint brushes at the dollar store to clean the boxes.

[kingpd@businessprints.net]

I got one.

If you have to move the machine both away from the wall and to the side to get to the back panels, unplug the machine first so as to not bend the electrical prong while it is still in the wall outlet.

[goodboy2010]

i am new
nice tips for me
thx for sharing!
waiting more posts from you

[dogsbody]

A clean machine is a good machine. It is not hard to clean the paper dust collectors and filters.
Take the time to clean the rollers, it is also not hard and doesn't take too much time.
Clean the mirrors.
Don't try to push your drums, the image may be OK but the old drum will make the insides of your machine filthy.
Do you PM's properly. We get PM kits from Konica, makes life easier, one part number and you have all the parts in one box, this is even more important which production colour machines.

[vincent64]

Make sure your end users throw away empty toner carts.
Have had a few put empty ones back into a mach when they ran out.
And have them get rid of old toner from there last machine, most is not compatible with the new one.

[fixthecopier]

Old contract toner is a killer. Ask if they have any, then tell them how much you will charge if it finds its way into your machine, and they will give it to you. I have busted the Army almost 40 times filling up their own bottles. I charge them $500 if it is just toner they put in. It is not always toner they put in.

[kingpd@businessprints.net]

I find it interesting sometimes how much toner a customer will have from their previous machines...I swear some dealers must be shipping it by the pallet.