Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

[itassist]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

to me this series 03s from mpc3003 are solid boxes and if you keep them clean run well.
If you dont clean them,clean filters and fuser guide you will have issues.
You seem like a nice guy for an IT guy as usually by now we are telling him to take a walk...
If you pull all drums,ITB unit you can see how each drum looks..
And then you can wipe the inside with a damp soft cloth..
There are a bunch of things whenever i pick up a machine.
Not sure how tech savvy you are,as you can muck something if not careful

Thanks, ages ago I started my career by repairing computers in a small town shop, where customers don't want to be told 'you need a new one'. I'm more on the networking-side of things now but we do have a handful of printers here and there, mainly HP though, but this Ricoh is still the old Queen.

What I did notice is that the inside of the printer is far from clean (patches of toner pretty much everywhere), I bought some magnetic toner wipes from Amazon because I really don't know how to access all the areas and corners.

[mga]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

You can always get pcu rebuild kit and get a trained engineer to fit cost is a lot cheaper

[copier tech]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

Hi all, I'm not a Ricoh technician but I have worked on this machine every now and again.

The machine has started to show some issues with the Cyan (see pattern attached), is it just a matter of replacing the PCDU or could it something else? Having just printed the PM parts list, I can see that both the developer and PCU have reached 310,000 copies (target 270,000).

Thanks all

I trust you cleaned the laser with the tool (inside the from door)

White lines are usually caused by the dev unit, you get lines or background when the PCU fails.

I'd start by removing the transfer unit & all PCDUs clean inside the machine, split each PCDU & vac up any loose toner.

While you have the cyan unit split have a look at the dev coating can you see a slight deletion?

However if your PCDU has done 310k it has done well & will need replacing soon if now now.

[fshead]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

how much is the VAT?
I though you guys were out of the EU?

[itassist]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

how much is the VAT?
I though you guys were out of the EU?

20%
We are still in the EU, but in any case I am not sure why we shouldn't have to pay VAT, the money does not go to the EU...

[itassist]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

I trust you cleaned the laser with the tool (inside the from door)

White lines are usually caused by the dev unit, you get lines or background when the PCU fails.

I'd start by removing the transfer unit & all PCDUs clean inside the machine, split each PCDU & vac up any loose toner.

While you have the cyan unit split have a look at the dev coating can you see a slight deletion?

However if your PCDU has done 310k it has done well & will need replacing soon if now now.

Yes, I did clean the laser. Having 'cleaned' the cyan dev unit, the white lines briefly disappeared but then came back in a different area (but the area is not changing now).

[Phil B.]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

Yes, I did clean the laser. Having 'cleaned' the cyan dev unit, the white lines briefly disappeared but then came back in a different area (but the area is not changing now).

replace/rebuild the C dev unit

[fshead]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

Yes, I did clean the laser. Having 'cleaned' the cyan dev unit, the white lines briefly disappeared but then came back in a different area (but the area is not changing now).

What did you do regarding cleaning dev unit?
did you dump all the developer out and pick out "chunks"?
I stopped doing this as it is just cheaper to pour a new bag of dev in and back to normal...
I only resorted to sieving the dev powder in the past when i did not have bags of developer..
I now store 3 sets for each model i service...

[slimslob]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

Yes, I did clean the laser. Having 'cleaned' the cyan dev unit, the white lines briefly disappeared but then came back in a different area (but the area is not changing now).

You have contaminated developer, most likely paper lint unless you are using aftermarket toner in which case it is the aftermarket toner.

[JayPaul]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

These machines don't do individual bags of dev... are you using that from a different model or am I missing something? '03 models and so on just do dev units as far as I am aware.
Good job trying to clean it, sounds like it's got some chunks in there, you essentially just moved them causing the lines to move, it's really difficult on this model dev unit to get rid of them altogether. That many void lines would indicate time to replace dev unit (although as mentioned if it were compatible toners causing it, the dev units could get wrecked way before their life)

[fshead]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

You have contaminated developer, most likely paper lint unless you are using aftermarket toner in which case it is the aftermarket toner.

NOT always the case
I buy a lot of low meter lease returns and have seen OEM toners in them with clumped chunks blocking the dev brush.
They are usually dirty and all filters clogged..Usually Ricoh sticker so I guess that dealers tech were lazy..........

As for individual bags of developer I have them ..
If you look at the mpc2800,mpc3501,mpc3502 design the developer unit was SOLID,so I dont see a big difference in layout on the 03s so
reusing the unit makes sense and $$$$

[mikadonovan]

Re: Print quality problems - Ricoh MP C4503

There is a bulletin for this issue, D148-003. It basically states that if the cleaning of the LD shield does not solve the problem, the issue is in the development unit. Looking at the operator side of the offending dev unit, notice the white gears. The bulletin says to rotate the gears 5 times in one direction, then rotate it five times in the other direction, then replace the dev unit if this does not work. I can say from experience that it DOES work sometimes. I definitely do this before replacing anything.