ricoh mpc 2500

[Guest]

initially, i was trying to eliminate black lines on my prints, so i took out the pcu and dumped out developer thinking it was extra developer that didn't need to be in there. Now my printer doesn't print black and white at all!.
what is the cheapest and easiest way to fix this.
i've been quoted from a local company $1100.00 for a new pcu black unit.
online i see about $200-$300.
what's the difference, and do i need a technician to do this? thanks

[techspec]

You're machine is going to need new developer fitted to the developer unit as you've emptied it as well as a new PCU assembly (OPC Drum) to combat the black lines. I would recommend a qualified technician/engineer fit these as they will have to set up the developer and PCU through SP modes which are engineer accessible.

For $1100 fly me over and I'll fit it

[Patish]

"so i took out the pcu and dumped out developer thinking it was extra developer"
Are you kidding ?
If you really did that, don't waste your money and call to tech service.

[Eric1968]

You dumped out developer? Leave this kind of repairs to a qualified technician! For $ 1100,- you have a complete PCU Unit, which consists of a Drum Unit and a Development Unit. To replace this you have to be trained on this machine. There are a couple of settings that need to be adjusted. The enduser only replaces toner. For all the other replacements : call a tech!

[digiwerks]

do i have to replace all other 3 pcu's .. my local company is trying to rip me off i think..
what do you think the difference is between the "original" gestener pcu's online for $200 compared to this $1000 one locally?
would it work the same? thank you!

[mikadonovan]

IF you can get an entire PCU (that is the drum and development unit assembly) for that price, consider a couple of things. Be sure and purchase OEM only if you want favorable results from the unit. Also, the previous posts were correct as needing a qualified technician to do the install. Certain SP modes are required to be performed for the setup of a new PCU. You may just have to pay a standard labor rate for the installation. There is a possibility that your machine has more issues than a serious lack of developer and these could be addressed at the time of the service call. Hope this helps.

[mikadonovan]

do i have to replace all other 3 pcu's .. my local company is trying to rip me off i think..
what do you think the difference is between the "original" gestener pcu's online for $200 compared to this $1000 one locally?
would it work the same? thank you!

That depends on the % of use for the color PCU,s which can be determined by running an SMC logging data report which is accesible only through service modes. I will tell you that the DRUM unit itself is rated for 80K and the DEVELOPER ITSELF has a 160K expected life. I will also add that even if you could run a SMC report you probably find most of it to be gibberish unless you have been trained to service the machine.

[imaginemoko]

just a piece of advice as mention above... never take risk to something you have no idea, or what its all about, copier is not just do it by your self, most of the guys posting advice here is highly and technically trained to do the job, am sorry. but as they mention better call for a service before things get worst, better also to have a service maintenance agreement for your machine...

Good Luck.

[KenB]

This reminds me of a sign that quite a few of us have seen in car repair facilities:

Labor Rate: $30 per hour
If you watch: $50 per hour
If you worked on it first: $100 per hour

I just wonder how many $2000 boards have needed to be replaced because somebody without the proper information or technical skills thought they were doing the right thing.

[digiwerks]

check this out

That depends on the % of use for the color PCU,s which can be determined by running an SMC logging data report which is accesible only through service modes. I will tell you that the DRUM unit itself is rated for 80K and the DEVELOPER ITSELF has a 160K expected life. I will also add that even if you could run a SMC report you probably find most of it to be gibberish unless you have been trained to service the machine.

do me a favor please...
go to this site.
RICOH AFICIO MP C2000 DEVELOPER BLACK 160K / B2309640
this is where i am thinking of purchasing the black drum, and developer. they sell it seperately it seems.
check it out, let me know if that's what you mean by "whole drum unit".
thanks,

[KopyKat]

initially, i was trying to eliminate black lines on my prints, so i took out the pcu and dumped out developer thinking it was extra developer that didn't need to be in there. Now my printer doesn't print black and white at all!.
what is the cheapest and easiest way to fix this.
i've been quoted from a local company $1100.00 for a new pcu black unit.
online i see about $200-$300.
what's the difference, and do i need a technician to do this? thanks

I'm sorry but you deserve whatever they charge you. Pay it and learn your lesson. And yes it does require a PROFESSIONAL!! What you did equates to a custodian doing a heart transplant. Not trying to make fun of you, just stating the facts.

Believe it or not this is not the first time I have heard of this and worse being done by end users. I had a customer remove the exposure glass and jack with the lens block...you know...those white painted screws. Turned out he was looking for where the black lines were coming from...uhhh...the scanner slit glass! Hehehe

[KenB]

Were you ever able to readjust the lens position?

Those are set up on a special jig at the factory, and impossible to reset in the field.

I once had somebody try to fix his own fax machine, and did the very same thing with the CCD.

It was a $400 mistake!

[msaeger]

Were you ever able to readjust the lens position?

Those are set up on a special jig at the factory, and impossible to reset in the field.

I once had somebody try to fix his own fax machine, and did the very same thing with the CCD.

It was a $400 mistake!

I have had to go out for that after another tech did it. I was able to get it lined up right without a jig. I had to tighten the screws just enough to hold it but so I could still move it a little until I got it lined up. Can't remember what model it was a long time ago.

[KopyKat]

Were you ever able to readjust the lens position?

Those are set up on a special jig at the factory, and impossible to reset in the field.

I once had somebody try to fix his own fax machine, and did the very same thing with the CCD.

It was a $400 mistake!

Didn't even try to adjust it as you say that's a factory adjustment. I could have tried for days and never gotten it back to normal...just quoted a replace and repair cost. They had a maintenance agreement but it clearly states that if the customer attempts repairs and damages something, the contract is null and void and all repairs are at the customer's expense. That was a big bill. Oh well. They learned their lesson.

[msaeger]

do me a favor please...
go to this site.
RICOH AFICIO MP C2000 DEVELOPER BLACK 160K / B2309640
this is where i am thinking of purchasing the black drum, and developer. they sell it seperately it seems.
check it out, let me know if that's what you mean by "whole drum unit".
thanks,

The part you linked to is just the developer (the stuff you dumped out) not the developer unit and or drum unit.

The part you pulled out is to dump the developer out is the "whole pcu" it is the drum unit and developer unit stuck together. If you order just the drum unit you will need to remove the developer unit from the one you have, put new developer in it, and attach it to the new pcu. If you get the "whole pcu" you will get the drum unit, and developer unit with developer in it.