i series fusers?

[copyman]

I know about the new style i series fusers that are used to replace the early ones that go bad, print smearing off etc.

Few questions:

1) What is reason these fusers go bad prematurely? Has anyone rebuilt them with aftermarket parts? I've rebuilt many 4 & 8 series with success.

2) Looking at the bulletin regarding the bad fusers there are soft switch settings and added plate, should these settings & plate be done on early serial # machines even though there are no issues with fuser?

Hate to trash fusers with under 50k on them and why I'm asking if they can be repaired and used again? If not into dumpster they go....

Thanks

[Oystercopy]

I have the same questions you do Copyman. I have yet to go back out to a customer with fuser issues, and try the softswitch settings they recommend. What I did instead was go to each user's computer, and make them use the Thick 2 setting until I can get back out there and do the changes. I don't think Konica changed anything about the fusers themselves, but if they did, I don't know what those changes are. And I also have no idea what that "plate" is supposed to do, to change fuser temperature or operation in any way. I just love how the manufacturers put all these changes out there and don't explain (or even care to explain) what they're doing and why. They just expect you to follow all the suggestions they give you without concern for cost and time.

And I've rebuilt a couple of C-360i and C-450i Fusers.. they seem OK, but they haven't gone 100's of thousands of pages yet either, so hard to tell.
OC

[AlaskaCopyTech]

I have handled a bunch of I-Series fusers. Most of the premature wear is to the fuser belt. I am 99% sure the plate is to counter noise issues not premature wear. Personally I think they changed something about the new fusers that come with the plate and I wouldn't try putting the plate on the older fusers. Also take the exit tray cover that covers the door sensor to help fit your screwdriver in that tiny spot if you are struggling with room.

[Max]

I belive the plate is to prevent creasing.

[occus]

There are 2 different problems with the fusers.

1. Premature failure of the heating foil (You often see small crack)
>>To Prevent a massive swinging move, add Adjusting Plate
fuser1.png
but also: Material of the swing control collar has been changed to the durable and EagleL-compatible PPS resin. (new style fuser)


2.Problem ist the toner will not be fixed due a heating problem/sensor problem
Bild_2025-05-08_162231459.png

This is theoretical, we don't know exactly ;-)

[femaster]

There are 2 different problems with the fusers.

1. Premature failure of the heating foil (You often see small crack)
>>To Prevent a massive swinging move, add Adjusting Plate
fuser1.png
but also: Material of the swing control collar has been changed to the durable and EagleL-compatible PPS resin. (new style fuser)


2.Problem ist the toner will not be fixed due a heating problem/sensor problem
Bild_2025-05-08_162231459.png

This is theoretical, we don't know exactly ;-)

The second part was part of a bulletin Konica released. The poor toner adhesion was supposedly caused by contamination of the sensor which would then give false temperature readings.

The main difference that I have seen between the original and updated fusers is that they use a different belt compound. There may be other differences as well, but that is the most obvious difference. The surface of the original would wear out, generally between 200K and 225K pages. The new style fusers, with the plate and modified Engine Switch settings, use a different belt that seems to actually last. We have replaced nearly all of the original design fusers with the updated ones. We have machines with the new style fusers that have page counts upwards of 850K on the new fuser with no signs of degradation to the fusing belt. The new ones definitely are lasting much longer than the originals.

[occus]

Yes the orignal heating belts are very bad. I have rebuilded a lot of the fusers with new heating belts from allibaba for 30$ for non high volume customers.

[copyman]

Yes the orignal heating belts are very bad. I have rebuilded a lot of the fusers with new heating belts from allibaba for 30$ for non high volume customers.

If you change belt do you also change the engine switches referred to in bulletin?

[occus]

No, old style fusers i let it run with old settings.