MP4000 ligth copy

[msaeger]

I just put the latest development unit D0092301 in a machine today so we'll see how long it lasts.

[Uktech]

Hi to all on this thread

Am interested to see how long the machine works with the new developer unit, hopefully, you replaced the charge roller at the same time. Definitely check the continuity of the drum earth shaft as have had a number of these fail (D009-1111), in addition check the continuity though the charge roller electrode plate connection assembly at the rear frame side (connection between parts D009-2317 and D009-2318), this will exhibit as SC304 or as very high values for the charge roller (up around 2000v) and may have no continuity when checked with a meter.

[E Winter]

Hot off the press
There is now a new dev unit available that they say helps to prevent the toner sticking to the mag roller.
D009 2301

I'm really curious if this is going to be the long awaited solution. So far there's no TB beside the MB wich is referring to the new DV unit and "allows" us to undo the SP modifications wich makes the machines lighter.

But 100k without trouble isn't indeed that bad for this POS

[Shadow1]

I guess we had the inside track on these - we've been getting them in as a sub for the original part number for almost 2 months. It does seem to help, but not nearly enough. It seems to extend the period of nausea about 50% before the machine actually barfs, but it's not the 200% improvement needed to bring the machine back to spec.

[richeyrich]

Light copies on MP4000~5000

It's not unusual to have to replace developer on this model well before the PM limit. There is an issue with this model with toner sticking to the mag roller and throwing off the settings. Ricoh has put out several bulletins on this issue. Also check your drum ground. Anything higher than 5 ohms and you should replace that as well.
Start with developer though, also make sure your customer is using the correct toner.

Attach about 1 inch piece of paper clip from frame to end of drum shaft with small amount of conductive grease this was the issue with the old 450's

[tekcopyer]

We also facing this problem and i want to do a experiment, since the drum of this model is the same with Aficio 2045 so i want try to use the developer and toner Af 2045. what do you think guys?

[Venom]

A few guys here have converted the toner add motor and have done exactly that with positive results....

[spaceman99]

There is no true fix for this yet. Until Ricoh alter the wax level with in the toner then we will have to carry on inventing new fixes. Hence on why using the old dev and toner from a 203 works. . The wax was added to make it better for the planet, but the amount of industry going into to repairing it seems a bit off balance. In a away its not a bad thing, as it has kept a lot of people in a job !!! NOT long now before we follow Hp and IT dept start changing the complete component.

me ...well i change the mag roller and dev every time. Even after cleaning the mag roller so you can eat of it, still does not prevent for getting dirty. I also give the pcu a good clean. This seem to last around 40k in my high volume mch.

Re the start of this thread....I would go for the hopper.

oh my goodness .........just read this back to my self...apologies i may off gone a bit deep there..
oh well ,,,good luck.

[msaeger]

There is no true fix for this yet. Until Ricoh alter the wax level with in the toner then we will have to carry on inventing new fixes. Hence on why using the old dev and toner from a 203 works. . The wax was added to make it better for the planet, but the amount of industry going into to repairing it seems a bit off balance. In a away its not a bad thing, as it has kept a lot of people in a job !!! NOT long now before we follow Hp and IT dept start changing the complete component.

me ...well i change the mag roller and dev every time. Even after cleaning the mag roller so you can eat of it, still does not prevent for getting dirty. I also give the pcu a good clean. This seem to last around 40k in my high volume mch.

Re the start of this thread....I would go for the hopper.

oh my goodness .........just read this back to my self...apologies i may off gone a bit deep there..
oh well ,,,good luck.

Are you just replacing the mag roller ? I have only been able to get the whole dev unit.

[spaceman99]

The complete unit. your correct as the mag roller not available.

[E Winter]

After my experiences I'm shure that the default process control settings are leading to a light image. This is a common example:

I did a PM (renewing PCU part), clean the Mag roller and keep the dev (if <160k) -> black lacks like before the pm, almost no difference. If I do a manual toner add (complete run, no interruption via front door open after a few secs) via SP mode I'm getting a stunning black and no background, so the dev is still healthy. In this state I've tried to do a TD and ID sensor initialisation but after a few thousand copies the black density fades away again. Now I'm playing aroung with other SP's wich are affecting the ID sensor measurement but no results so far.

Feel free to share your thoughts - maybe somebody else is messing arounds with the SP's as well^^

Edit:

Samples:



Top: Image quality right after PM
Center: Image quality after performing manual Toner add
Bottom: Image quality after a few thousand copies

[Venom]

The problem is the wax type toner. Build up on the mag roller causes less toner available to the drum, This causes poor patch to be created, This causes over toning, This causes even more toner to build up on the mag roller, This causes even less toner available to the drum...and so on and so on

[E Winter]

The problem is the wax type toner. Build up on the mag roller causes less toner available to the drum, This causes poor patch to be created, This causes over toning, This causes even more toner to build up on the mag roller, This causes even less toner available to the drum...and so on and so on

I would have shared this opinion some time ago but I think it's not the main cause for light image density anymore.

The new toner type does indeed still built up a coating on the mag roller - it's less compared to the old toner but still an issue. The best improvement of the new toner is that I don't have any problems with grey background anymore. It's basicly just the "light density" issue and I'm shure that the machine's process control is causing this - otherwise we should see a much better black after cleaning the mag roller but I've never seen a noticeable better a/b comparision. I really need to perform a manual toner add via SP so that the machines adds quite a lot toner - black is great then without any backround. That wouldn't have worked with the old toner type - I mostly got backround after trying to add some toner. Well, like I said even if you perform a TD+ID sensor initialisation after adding toner until the black looks good the process control doesn't care and the machine will become lighter after a few thousand copies (where the mag roller looks still great).

[GhostInTheMachine]

We have had good luck with the modifications. All machines going to pm or better. But to get these result, you have to do all steps involved.

Replaced dev unit, dev. (with new style)
Make SURE the customer has the new style toner and no old toner in their supplies.
Also replace pcu components at the same time. Drum, blade, charge roller. (For some reason this box doesn't like replacing dev by itself.)
Make sure to disassemble pcu and vacuum out ALL old style toner.
Make SP modifications as per tech bulletin.

Leave out any one of these things and you will be facing the same problems shortly.

[msaeger]

Did everyone see there is a part number for just the mag roller now ? I wonder if just putting that in instead for the dev unit would be good enough ? I would think so there's not much else in the dev unit.