Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

[TCA TECH]

Hi All,
Been getting way too many white line issues on dev units. only real fix is to replace the dev unit. Issue is a buildup of lumpy toner behind the doctor blade. Old school just remove blade and clean out suspect toner, but not these machines, throw it away. Any ideas out there to save some $$$$
Thanks in advance

[Iowatech]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Well, in the really old days I used to carry a flour sifter in case developer material got wrecked in the hot car during summertime, but I haven't done that in years so I don't know if that still works. Still, if you can find a cheap sifter at a garage sale or something, and you don't think it would look weird, it might be something to try.

[copier tech]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

On the training course they told us the best way to clear these white line deletions was to split the drum & dev units, then wind the dev roller in the opposite direction then back the correct way until the line clears.

I've also found keep running a piece of paper under the blade to the right, while turning the dev roller clears the foreign matter.

[tjvincent]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

I Like the flour sifter idea, I know there is a bulletin out that does mention reversing the dev unit gears, but that might get you out the door, but you'll be back the next day for white lines again.

[Zeldaman]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Hi there!
I take the dev-unit, open it carefully (the little hooks are very slimsy) and take the complete developer on an A-3 sheet (carefully knock with a screw driver on the bottom of the dev-box). Then i take a strainer (made of plastic!!!), cleaning the doctor-blade & refill the dev-box. Works in the most cases.
Greetings...

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Hi there!
I take the dev-unit, open it carefully (the little hooks are very slimsy) and take the complete developer on an A-3 sheet (carefully knock with a screw driver on the bottom of the dev-box). Then i take a strainer (made of plastic!!!), cleaning the doctor-blade & refill the dev-box. Works in the most cases.
Greetings...

A doctor blade cleaning tool is available and I have used it on color development units.
A2949560 Paper Dust Cleaner - 5pcs/set

[dusan]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Also check toner hopper for toner lumps.

[qbert69]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

....just use a piece of fairly stiff mylar to clean the doctor blade!...if the toner/dev mix is clumped, then sift!

[Lagonda]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Sorry guys, but don't agree with you. A new dev unit with dev is around $70 so its false economy to try to fix a faulty one. Just clean the doctor blade and you'll be back again when the lump resurfaces, open the dev unit and you risk damaging the seals and upsetting the TD sensor if you chuck away some dev to get rid of the lumps.

And if anyone can explain how Ricoh can sell you a dev unit for $70 but want over $1300 for a PCDU and a $1000 for a PCU? The only explanation we can come up with is sheer greed.
We've just sourced a non-OEM PCU rebuild kit, will get back to you with results after we've given it a test run.
In the mean time I'll get back to putting in warranty claims for dev units that have failed within 3 months, there's 3 of them beside my desk at the moment.

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Sorry guys, but don't agree with you. A new dev unit with dev is around $70 so its false economy to try to fix a faulty one. Just clean the doctor blade and you'll be back again when the lump resurfaces, open the dev unit and you risk damaging the seals and upsetting the TD sensor if you chuck away some dev to get rid of the lumps.

And if anyone can explain how Ricoh can sell you a dev unit for $70 but want over $1300 for a PCDU and a $1000 for a PCU? The only explanation we can come up with is sheer greed.
We've just sourced a non-OEM PCU rebuild kit, will get back to you with results after we've given it a test run.
In the mean time I'll get back to putting in warranty claims for dev units that have failed within 3 months, there's 3 of them beside my desk at the moment.

But when the customer wants something done now.

[Blizzoo]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Well, in the really old days I used to carry a flour sifter in case developer material got wrecked in the hot car during summertime, but I haven't done that in years so I don't know if that still works. Still, if you can find a cheap sifter at a garage sale or something, and you don't think it would look weird, it might be something to try.

I used this method using a CD case and a piece of hosiery, put developer in the cd case, cover it with the hosiery material and start to sift

[BLADE]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

I used this method using a CD case and a piece of hosiery, put developer in the cd case, cover it with the hosiery material and start to sift

think I,ll take the $70 option thanks

[Lagonda]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

But when the customer wants something done now.

OK, you win with that one, but I'll be back tomorrow with a new dev tank.

And as for using stockings to sift dev I can see myself getting in a whole lot of trouble asking the office girls if I could borrow their lingerie for a while!

[TCA TECH]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

Sorry guys, but don't agree with you. A new dev unit with dev is around $70 so its false economy to try to fix a faulty one. Just clean the doctor blade and you'll be back again when the lump resurfaces, open the dev unit and you risk damaging the seals and upsetting the TD sensor if you chuck away some dev to get rid of the lumps.

And if anyone can explain how Ricoh can sell you a dev unit for $70 but want over $1300 for a PCDU and a $1000 for a PCU? The only explanation we can come up with is sheer greed.
We've just sourced a non-OEM PCU rebuild kit, will get back to you with results after we've given it a test run.
In the mean time I'll get back to putting in warranty claims for dev units that have failed within 3 months, there's 3 of them beside my desk at the moment.

Lagonda, could you let me know the part number you are using for $70 dev unit. If that is the case I too would just advise replacement. At $1500 for a PCU, interested in OEM

Just check latest price lise and yes $70 for a colour dev unit. :-(
Thanks in advance

[blackcat4866]

Re: Ricoh MPC3003 4503 5503 white lines all colours

....just use a piece of fairly stiff mylar to clean the doctor blade!...if the toner/dev mix is clumped, then sift!

I'll second that. On the high volume Toshibas it's common to get "foreign matter" under the doctor blade. A quick swipe with my mylar cleaner tool, while rolling the mag roller forward pulls out the objects, without even removing the developing unit.

I've tried the sifting with a Kyocera developing unit that had collected toner rocks in the developer overflow. The sifting itself was successful, but the developing unit died. These units were never intended to be disassembled, and the delicate little snaps are just dying to break when you look at them wrong. I did not discover that the drive gear had spun, until the developing unit was nearly re-filled of developer. It was educational ... and a complete waste of time. =^..^=