Ricoh C3504ex intermittent light prints

[AEON]

I have a Ricoh C3504ex with very intermittent light prints. The prints come out almost completely blank, with very little text on the paper, see attached photo. It has been difficult to troubleshoot since it doesn't occur when I'm there. I believe it may happen for black only, but not entirely sure. I replaced the black drum and developer unit, transfer belt assembly, and black toner hopper and hopper motor. Help with this matter is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[dalewb74]

what is the environment like? where is the paper storied?

[GIUBOSS]

Check the laser glass corresponding to black but if you are not sure of the problem take out the complete laser unit and clean it. You can also stop the print before it enters the fuser and check whether the image is completely transferred onto the sheet.

[luca72]

I have a Ricoh C3504ex with very intermittent light prints. The prints come out almost completely blank, with very little text on the paper, see attached photo. It has been difficult to troubleshoot since it doesn't occur when I'm there. I believe it may happen for black only, but not entirely sure. I replaced the black drum and developer unit, transfer belt assembly, and black toner hopper and hopper motor. Help with this matter is greatly appreciated, thank you.

mumble...mumble....if it was the toner hopper, it should say "replace black cartridge"...I think some gear broke in the drive gear box, behind the pcdu's, it happened to me on a 2003, can you hear any strange noises?

[smo]

K Dev solenoid sticking. D0E11107. Replace or just peel off washer.

[slimslob]

What is the lead edge of the paper?

[AEON]

Thank you for your ideas. The environment is good, not a damp paper issue. Don't think it's a dirty laser glass, since the light prints are very intermittent. No noise, so I don't think it's a broken gear in the drive. Bk dev solenoid, I believe is not applicable for this model. From the sample prints, it looks like a transfer symptom that occurs when you install the transfer belt unit and forget to engage the transfer belt unit levers. I did replace the transfer belt unit and didn't resolve. Next I am gonna replace the paper transfer contact and release motor.

[Popolopo]

Thank you for your ideas. The environment is good, not a damp paper issue. Don't think it's a dirty laser glass, since the light prints are very intermittent. No noise, so I don't think it's a broken gear in the drive. Bk dev solenoid, I believe is not applicable for this model. From the sample prints, it looks like a transfer symptom that occurs when you install the transfer belt unit and forget to engage the transfer belt unit levers. I did replace the transfer belt unit and didn't resolve. Next I am gonna replace the paper transfer contact and release motor.

MPC3504ex still have black solenoid. Usually it get sticky due to the dampen wore off. You should check that first before changing paper transfer contact.

[luca72]

Thank you for your ideas. The environment is good, not a damp paper issue. Don't think it's a dirty laser glass, since the light prints are very intermittent. No noise, so I don't think it's a broken gear in the drive. Bk dev solenoid, I believe is not applicable for this model. From the sample prints, it looks like a transfer symptom that occurs when you install the transfer belt unit and forget to engage the transfer belt unit levers. I did replace the transfer belt unit and didn't resolve. Next I am gonna replace the paper transfer contact and release motor.

if you do not hear any grinding noises, and you have replaced the developer unit, I recommend, as suggested by smo, and popolopo to check the solenoid, it could be plausible, you can activate the closing switches and visually check with the door open that the rotation of the developer unit spindle is constant, in my opinion the development unit does not turn by instinct

[AEON]

Thank you for your feedback. I had searched on the parts manual for the part number D0E11107 that smo had listed, but didn't find. I did find part number D2391107 on the Main Drive page that I believe is the developer solenoid. I will give that a try.

[Popolopo]

Thank you for your feedback. I had searched on the parts manual for the part number D0E11107 that smo had listed, but didn't find. I did find part number D2391107 on the Main Drive page that I believe is the developer solenoid. I will give that a try.

Yup. That is the solenoid that you need to check.