"Rebuilding" a C203

[Bubblesquah]

I have a C203 with an ADF that we use in a small 2-3 person office. I purchased it used about 4 years ago from a print shop that barely used it. The imaging drums were only half used.

When the drums indicated replacement, I replaced the chips on them, realizing over time the quality would degrade. And of course it did. The image transfer belt finally came up for replacement this week.

I have decided that it makes more sense to go ahead and replace everything (all 4 drums, transfer belt, transfer roller) for about $2000 than to buy something new. Everything else about the machine is still practically brand new.

I have the service manual and I'll have no problem doing the maintenance, and cleaning. While I'm at it, are there any other parts that I should consider replacing? Any tips for cleaning or any gotchas? I'm assuming that once I'm done, the machine will function like it did brand new out of the box.

I should probably know better than to ask this question - about toner. Over the past couple of years, I did not use genuine toner in this machine. I purchased toner cartriges and I also refilled my own from bottles. Part of my rebuild is going to include replacing the waste toner box and all 4 toner cartridges with genuine KM toner. I'm assuming the consensus around here is that is the only way to go, right? Is there any technical information about the difference between genuine and not and how it effects the printer?

I appreciate any input! Thanks!

[blackcat4866]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

While you have it apart, it's a good time to clean the patch sensors. With the drums, developers and transfer belts out, you'll be able to see the sensors inside the right side door. There is a mechanical shutter that moves to cover the sensors, but you can move it easily to see and clean the sensors. Also clean the laser slit glasses.

The manual has a very nice section on preventative maintenance based on copy count. I recommend that you take a few minutes to examine that section.

When you've got the new parts installed, be sure to follow the section describing stabilization and gradation.

And yes, you'll get the best results from OEM toner. =^..^=

[emujo]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

IF you are ready for a xfer belt, then you may be needing a fuser unit soon, adding another $1k to the final cost. For a small additional amount you could get into a C224e. Slightly higher speed, and much more suited to todays IT environment. IMO this is the way to go, I'm dealing with this with my wife's car, she ran her 2001 Saturn w/o oil and destroyed the engine...3500 for parts and labor in a car worth about 1K....going with a new (to her anyway) auto. Emujo

[JR2ALTA]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

I would see how far $2000 can get you towards a used C220-C280-C360 machine. It's the next generation up and much better. The C203 can get toner rocks that will turn your machine into a paperweight. It also has a 'transfer alienation' code that would be costly to repair.

[Bubblesquah]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

While you have it apart, it's a good time to clean the patch sensors. With the drums, developers and transfer belts out, you'll be able to see the sensors inside the right side door. There is a mechanical shutter that moves to cover the sensors, but you can move it easily to see and clean the sensors. Also clean the laser slit glasses.

The manual has a very nice section on preventative maintenance based on copy count. I recommend that you take a few minutes to examine that section.

When you've got the new parts installed, be sure to follow the section describing stabilization and gradation.

And yes, you'll get the best results from OEM toner. =^..^=

Thank you sir. I have reviewed the manual and will be doing as it says, based on copy count. I will take a look at the other two items you mention. I appreciate your input!

[Bubblesquah]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

IF you are ready for a xfer belt, then you may be needing a fuser unit soon, adding another $1k to the final cost. For a small additional amount you could get into a C224e. Slightly higher speed, and much more suited to todays IT environment. IMO this is the way to go, I'm dealing with this with my wife's car, she ran her 2001 Saturn w/o oil and destroyed the engine...3500 for parts and labor in a car worth about 1K....going with a new (to her anyway) auto. Emujo

Fuser shows 1 block under half "empty" at this point. I was thinking about doing the fuser too, but assumed there was no benefit to doing it early. Looks like fusing units go for about $490.

But now you have me thinking again. My thinking has been that there really isn't anything else to break on this - but I'm not the expert, so I could be wrong. We are probably what you would consider very light users - the counter is just now hitting 130,000. I would expect another 55,000 to take us at least 3 years. Does any of that change you opinion on anything? I assume the ADF on the C203 will fit the C224e?

Are there any other benefits to the C224e like longer life/cheaper consumables?

Thanks, I appreciate your input!

[blackcat4866]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Fuser shows 1 block under half "empty" at this point. I was thinking about doing the fuser too, but assumed there was no benefit to doing it early. Looks like fusing units go for about $490.

But now you have me thinking again. My thinking has been that there really isn't anything else to break on this - but I'm not the expert, so I could be wrong. We are probably what you would consider very light users - the counter is just now hitting 130,000. I would expect another 55,000 to take us at least 3 years. Does any of that change you opinion on anything? I assume the ADF on the C203 will fit the C224e?

Are there any other benefits to the C224e like longer life/cheaper consumables?

Thanks, I appreciate your input!

Yes, there is no specific benefit to changing the fuser early.

You are partially correct here. You are replacing the standard predictable consumables that we all know will need replacing at some point. But what about those things that you can't predict? As a single example, 8 year old copiers are much more prone to needing power supplies. You won't get any warning about that. If you're looking for some kind of guarantee, I'm not going to offer you one. 185K is a fully reasonable number of prints to expect from this model, but will it still be able to communicate with Windows 15 OS? Probably not.

Does this change my opinion? No. I would still fix it. But in the foreseeable future you will want newer technology.

The ADF on the C203 is not compatible with the C224e, and you can safely assume that machines 8 years apart in manufacture will not have compatible accessories.

Consumable cost now will not be that much different. There is a question you have to ask yourself though. In the coming years the toner is going to become more difficult to get, and become more expensive. Are you going to take a gamble, and buy ahead $1000 worth of toner, in the hopes that nothing else major happens, preventing you from using it? I can't answer this question for you. =^..^=

EDIT: From a technicians perspective what you're doing is a PM, not a rebuild. Back in the good old days we did 1M copy rebuilds. You would bring the machine into the shop. Remove all the imaging components. Remove and replace all the drive bushings, rollers, gears. Sometimes replacing the scanner cables and lamp. Replace all the consumables. It was an 8 to 16 hour process. AFAIK nobody does actual rebuilds anymore. =^..^=

[Bubblesquah]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Yes, there is no specific benefit to changing the fuser early.

You are partially correct here. You are replacing the standard predictable consumables that we all know will need replacing at some point. But what about those things that you can't predict? As a single example, 8 year old copiers are much more prone to needing power supplies. You won't get any warning about that. If you're looking for some kind of guarantee, I'm not going to offer you one. 185K is a fully reasonable number of prints to expect from this model, but will it still be able to communicate with Windows 15 OS? Probably not.

Does this change my opinion? No. I would still fix it. But in the foreseeable future you will want newer technology.

The ADF on the C203 is not compatible with the C224e, and you can safely assume that machines 8 years apart in manufacture will not have compatible accessories.

Consumable cost now will not be that much different. There is a question you have to ask yourself though. In the coming years the toner is going to become more difficult to get, and become more expensive. Are you going to take a gamble, and buy ahead $1000 worth of toner, in the hopes that nothing else major happens, preventing you from using it? I can't answer this question for you. =^..^=

I hear ya. I guess there really isn't a "right" answer, it is all about assuming risk. Buying a C224e and an ADF look like it will be far more than the cost of doing this.

The only fear I have in the back of my head is putting all of these parts in, and it suddenly not work at all. But I assume the chances of that are pretty low.

Thanks again.

[subaro]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Interesting thread. Just want to mention though.

Never to stock toner for long term use. Toner has a shelf life and each manufacturer may have a fact sheet as to thier's. Toner sitting on the shelf for a long time can cause them to be useless and cause all type of problems. If not stored in the right tempreature or i should other than room tempreature, then they can cake and cause print quality issues ect. just my two cents here. Maybe i stand to be corrected here. so others can add or subtract to this.

Also, i don't work on this machine. But no machine is guarnteed for anything. One can go by the history of a series and predict some know faults and failures. but in general mechanical parts can fail at any time period and as it ages the rate of parts failing will go up also. Some machines, especially colour works or is more consistent in quality as it uses the dev/toner and replenishes with new ones.

[allan]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Its a good printer and changing those parts would give u perfect quality. All the advice is good. I would suggest getting new cleaning pads for the swab used to clean the exposure glasses as well check maby there is still a spare in there. The fuser can be reset as well. Even the transfer belt can be reset if it still looks ok.

[Bubblesquah]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Here are a few pictures of what it looks like after I pulled everything out. Anything here look out of the ordinary for a machine that no one has cleaned, probably ever? Yes, we use a lot of red and yellow when we do print...

capturea.jpgcaptureb.jpgcapturec.jpgcaptured.jpgcapturee.jpgcapturef.jpg

[blackcat4866]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Nothing extraordinary. Call it magenta, so you don't sound like a newbie. =^..^=

[Bubblesquah]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

Nothing extraordinary. Call it magenta, so you don't sound like a newbie. =^..^=

Lol. I knew it was magenta, I meant to say we print a lot of red's and yellow.

I'll never forget Cyan, Magenta and Yellow - as a kid, in the darkroom at school, I learned to make color prints (CibaChrome) with an enlarger that had C,M and Y dials on it for color adjustment. Been burned in my mind ever since....

Thanks again for all of the input.

[EarthKmTech]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

dont know if anyones mentioned it yet, but when you replace the transfer belt the roller does not come with it in this series. you have to order it separately, if your going to town and want it perfect you should change it with the belt.

[Bubblesquah]

Re: "Rebuilding" a C203

dont know if anyones mentioned it yet, but when you replace the transfer belt the roller does not come with it in this series. you have to order it separately, if your going to town and want it perfect you should change it with the belt.

Yes, thank you - I have that on my list - so far:

- 1 of each Imaging Unit
- 1 Image transfer belt unit
- 1 Transfer roller
- 1 Waste Toner Box
- 1 of each toner

Looks like I'll be at about $1,985. And a few curse words, probably.