[Misc] Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

[mynameis]

Hello.

One of our Ricoh printers produces a dark line in feed direction in magenta colour, only. I use to print a full coverage 50% density magenta on A4 page.

What i tried so far:

- Change of PCDU
- Cleaning of laser glass
- Cleaning of laser mirrors, including polygon mirror
- Installing new driver
- Printing from different computers

I exclude common parts like the transfer belt, as only magenta is producing this problem.

Any ideas what else to check are very welcome.

[mynameis]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

No ideas, anyone?

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

The only things that I can think of that would only affect magenta are the magenta transfer roller in the ITB and a board or memory problem.

[mynameis]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

The only things that I can think of that would only affect magenta are the magenta transfer roller in the ITB and a board or memory problem.

Just switched the complete transfer unit. Problem persits.
Any dea, which board i should try to replace?
I have some used 430 models around here, but i know that switching the borads can be a pain in the neck, because you have to keep the original nv-RAM chip, or change the serial number...confusing...

[Polarbear]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

The only things that I can think of that would only affect magenta are the magenta transfer roller in the ITB and a board or memory problem.

+1 on the transfer. Laser related issues would produce white lines.

Transfer related issues would cause uneven density.

When you switched the ITB and PCU did the line stay in the same place or did it move?

[mynameis]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

+1 on the transfer. Laser related issues would produce white lines.

Transfer related issues would cause uneven density.

When you switched the ITB and PCU did the line stay in the same place or did it move?

The line stayed perfectly in the same spot.

[Iowatech]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

Any dea, which board i should try to replace?

Looks like the controller is the most likely suspect, although the laser signal travels from the controller through the bridge board and then to the laser unit, so the bridge board might be a candidate as well. Best I can tell, the bridge board is just behind the controller.

[Lagonda]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

This model printer hates high density prints. The toner feed system just doesn't cope with shoveling large amounts of toner into the dev unit. The spiral in the feed pipe twist its self in knots and eventually locks solid. From memory the recommended toner coverage for this model is quite low and from past experience if you go to far over that level the pumps die. Suggest you look for the bulletin that explains it all.
And just to cheer you up even further, the pumps are a pig to change!

[mynameis]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

This model printer hates high density prints. The toner feed system just doesn't cope with shoveling large amounts of toner into the dev unit. The spiral in the feed pipe twist its self in knots and eventually locks solid. From memory the recommended toner coverage for this model is quite low and from past experience if you go to far over that level the pumps die. Suggest you look for the bulletin that explains it all.
And just to cheer you up even further, the pumps are a pig to change!

Yeah, i am aware of that. Changed about 100 of these hoppers myself. Best thing: Ricoh came with the follow up model 440, which is by far more expensive than the 430 was and all they changed: They made the display smaller. All other parts (really...all of them) stayed the same. We hoped they would fix the hopper problem by using stronger augers (made of metal or something..) but no.

Thanks for the heads up Lagonda, but it's a little off-topic.

=]

By the way: I changed the controller and BCU, the line stays. Now going to change the bridge board, as suggested. If this doesn't fix the problem, i really don't know what could.

[Counsel]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

Just out of curiosity that's not a skyshot is it.

[Lagonda]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

Thanks for the heads up Lagonda, but it's a little off-topic. .

Not really off topic, I was just looking at it from a different angle, The dark stripe was where the toner has been supplied correctly and the light parts is where the toner density is low. i.e the fault was in reverse.

It's a is the glass half full or half empty question.

[Counsel]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

Just out of curiosity that's not a skyshot is it.

nm i asked this, i was thinking of a different model.

[mynameis]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

So, i am at the end of ideas.

Changed:

PCDU
Transfer belt assy
Controller board
Bridge board
BCU board

Cleaned:

Laser glass
Laser mirrors

Line persists...

[Counsel]

Re: Ricoh SPC430DN - Dark Line in Magenta

I know the PCU comes in a box of all 3 but we have had to replace single ones for problems right out of the box, it looks like a developer issue, we usually keep an opened box and use the PCUs 1 by 1 till we can return the defective units. You may have to replace the mag pcu again.