a few issues on a Ricoh Aficio MP2352

[Walter1982]

This machine is very old and I am trying to keep it going. Unfortunately I do not have a lot of experience doing this and I cannot find a service manual for this machine.

I would use this forum more often but I struggle having to adjust the dimensions on the pictures I'm taking in order to be able to upload them. I have trouble using this website sometimes, but here goes.

My 2 main issues is that I keep finding lots of "spilled" toner in the area in between the toner slider assembly and the developer. I'm not sure how this keeps happening but about a year ago I ordered an entire new slider assembly. On picture #5, the area circled in yellow is where I keep finding lots of spilled toner. Forgive me for not knowing the technical terms, but the area circled in red is that little box that sits on the slider assembly, that has that little lever which opens and closes a little port where the toner gets shuffled to the developer? Initially I thought this was where the toner was spilling from, so I took this little box apart, and totally washed everything including the little spring, and then put it back together, I made sure it snapped on tight. However, the toner would keep spilling into areas it's not supposed to. I have a feeling that little lever isn't coming all the way down and this is how toner is spilling. Perhaps the issue is with the developer unit? There is a little lever on top and towards the front of the developer unit which opens automatically as you slide the developer in.

In picture #4 I circled the area in yellow where there is also lots of toner spillage.

In picture #2 you can see that the toner is even spilling over to the transfer roller.

Picture #6 shows what it looks like if I don't clean it out for a few months. This is how I initially discovered it when I was changing a toner cartridge last year.

I am at a loss. I am considering buying a new developer but original ones are $700 however I did find one for under $100 here:

https://hongtai2009.en.made-in-china.com/product/bEurFyWobxph/China-Hongtaipart-Compatible-Drum-and-Developer-Unit-Assembly-D1203000-D120-3000-D120-3003-D1203003-for-Ricoh-MP-2352-2353-2852-3352-2553-3053-3353-Printer.html

this website is also where I ordered the toner slider assembly from about a year ago.

While this issue with the toner spillage did not prevent me from printing and using the machine, I would just have to vacuum out that area like once a week.

Another issue I am suddenly having is the papers are jamming as they go thru the fuser. When I open the side panel it seems that the paper is creasing towards the top left corner of the page.

I can order one of those fuser repair kits but I have no experience doing this. I am thinking of ordering this used fuser on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395354887735?_nkw=ricoh+aficio+mp2352+fuser&epid=24006558543&itmmeta=01J7EETWMGVD2RN114WDBQCE07&hash=item5c0cfcd637:g:ZHcAAOSwGqtj2GVj&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnpvRTmSNXr1zWp7%2BeinJq5tYubsx0ye4s4irsGsYYOCJTsLBi03X1kUHJfod98ma3VsAsS1SjntALVwPDNtub%2BzJbcZZXTMDwAa9Bt%2B9s8fAHsxMF2%2BIr%2FGAgUIPbHE0%2Ba4qwDaSgNRbC%2FTqiaWPrc1w%2BwfSJxNjyVn7Pi3oAfozlV5X%2FAlkJhAk7gHpaEMrTDgrHoNwOeqfcAemLLkQaEe9eKny0zXXtKpPFWoxbG3qUikC1Z5JBYtYV%2FRd6o8wdgMByshuhjd%2BPzUpX2MQ8JJZLBwo9pVr1cnB40FzEPPKfTujDOtHVv9vhtQj0DF3I%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6rK6867ZA&edge=1

I'm not sure I can fix either the developer or the fuser. Perhaps I should just buy these 2 parts and hope it solves the issue.

[slimslob]

If you need a service manual, there is a forum specifically for requesting one. USE IT.

What is the PM count on the PCU?

A small amount of toner spillage at the front is normal when the toner tray is pulled out or put back in. The last picture is a problem as it can result in toner falling down onto the laser protection glass and needs to be vacuumed out and then the glass removed and cleaned. Was there also toner in the bottom of the bottle holder? The toner bottle holder may need to be replaced to prevent further leakage.

[ridgemill]

These devices always run dirty, no matter what you try there will always be residual toner floating around.

The hopper will become dirty if the toner opening mechanism is not properly sealed. If you replaced with a 2nd hand/rebuilt unit, then it might be faulty.

The drum unit can overfill when a gear breaks down, and cause spillage, in that case you will notice a loud noise when it is printing. It will also cause a false toner end condition.

We used the older drum type 1027 (part number: 411018) for these models. Still a bit expensive, but are all in one and easy to swap. You will need to remove the smaller pin on the right hand side plate, on the front of the new drum unit.

The fuser creasing can be caused by poor quality paper, damp paper, or you have the green pressure handle on the envelope (lower) instead of the paper (upper) position.
Paper can also catch on the stripper pawls (you can see one on the third image, the dark brown claws just next to the edge of the paper), this is unlikely in this case but it is worth checking anyway. They should be clear on the underside (no need to disassemble, you can prop them open with a flat screwdriver or by hand), toner usually collects underneath and cause the paper to rise.

[copyaction]

As mentioned replace pcu with type 1027 and replace the toner supply unit D1203505 and it should stop dropping toner for a good while.

[Codex]

As said earlier here, replace the drum with the type 1027.I suggest to remove the black drum protection cover that can cause SC 400, because the transfer roller unit bends and the drum protection dont close properly

[slimslob]

As said earlier here, replace the drum with the type 1027.I suggest to remove the black drum protection cover that can cause SC 400, because the transfer roller unit bends and the drum protection dont close properly

Actually it is the gear on the end of the cover that get a tooth broken off thus preventing functioning properly. When I would have one crap the development roller gears I would harvest the cover and add to my spare parts stock.