I have been working on these beautiful and messy machines for the past month now and have learned alot to say the least. But i was wondering if any of you copier war vets could offer me any tips on working with the ricohs other than analyze, diagnose, and fix. Maybe some preventive maintenance tips, or something of that nature. Any info helps a new tech. Thank You
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You can find all Preventive Maintenance procedures in the Service Manual. Some machines take more time to maintain than others. You can also find a lot of info about Ricoh machines on this forum. Especially the things Ricoh does not mention in the manuals en RTB's.
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Yeah, pretty much what Eric said. If I tried to list all the "tricks of the trade" and little shortcuts I'd learned, I think my brain would melt. It comes with experience, with you being a newbie, everyone has to learn somewhere! You'll always have fellow techs and technical specialists etc to fall back on when you falter.It's 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Hit it.Comment
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Rule of thumb for the smaller b/w machines:
If it's dropping toner replace developer AND toner hopper
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Take the extra time to keep your machines nice and clean. It will slow you down up front but will save your ass in the future.
Also don't fight issues you know need parts. This can be easy or hard dependant on what the company or bosses where you work are like. I've always has it easy in that regard, though others work for tight-wads. Example: If a machine doesn't feed, change rollers, limiters and clutches if deemed needed, extra cleaning of worn out parts will only mask the issue long enough to get out the door. If it needs a PM then DO IT! You get the idea.
Use the TSRC (I think the Euro version is TESSA), be sure to check bulletins periodically, apply firmware as needed, and download Gooses Guide - this has sometimes been really useful. Individual model specific tips and tricks would be too numerous, if there is a specific model that would be easier but still can be quite a bit of information (some models are just more of a PITA than others).
Gain experience, life gets easier and the hardest won knowledge will often serve you best.Comment
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Read some of the posts here. Often there is some wisdom hidden in there somewhere. The search function is amazingly useful. =^..^=If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.
blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=Comment
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Yeah, it can be good too. You need to get good at specifying your search terms to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. You also need access to the internet to use the knowledge base, something a field tech won't always have immediate access to. Goose's Guide is a nice excel file that you can keep with you.Comment
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I agree with ZED Clean you machines start at the top and work your way down. A customer is less to get upset that you couldn't get the copier up and running if the outside of the copier is clean. Most important thing KEEP IT SIMPLE don't over think the problem.
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One tip for the colour boxes. When diagnosing which PCDU is at fault, you can set sp 5-618 from 0 to 1. This will enable you to perform mono colour skyshots from the main copy screen. Its best to set the exposure fairly low and also use A3 size paper to notice repeating faults.
Also the waste toner bottle can not be changed by the user on most of the lower range colour boxes, so it pays to check them when ever you visit a machine. Nothing worse than driving the X amount of kms just to replace a bottle. With doing this, and any other PM part replacement you should set sp 3-902-xxx to 1 before replacing the part. This automatically clears counters related to the parts replaced and in some cases initiates the correct procedures for running up replaced parts.
Hope that isn't too long winded.I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~Thomas EdisonComment
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Most technical work requires two simple knowledge variants.
1. NAVIGATION
Learn to navigate your way into any process and then reverse the process to navigate your way back out along the same path.
Example. if you use software or pull something apart by stepping in further, then reverse everything when you have to put it back or step your way out of it. It really doesn't matter if you start the process forwards or backwards the important thing to remember is that you are learning to NAVIGATE the process at hand.
2. FAMILIARITY
Learn the above navigation process repeatedly until you become familiar with the process.
Learn to identify readily with above two tasks and you will become a good technician.Inauguration to the "AI cancel-culture" fraternity 1997...
•••••• •••[§]• |N | € | o | M | Δ | t | π | ¡ | x | •[§]••• ••••••Comment
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Although people say the manuals and RTB's are incomplete its worth reading them and understanding them on the Ricohs you see the most. Will save you a lot of time in the field and when you call others techs or your tech specs you can say you are pretty sure its not mentioned.
Worth keeping a good record book of all the calls you go to. your fix a copier and then walk away then 3 months down the line you will not remember and see at another customers. Write down as much detail about every call you can fault, parts used, fixes used.
As others say find all the sources and use the ones you like the best. Also make your own cheat sheets of codes you need for setting up Dev or doing line adjust, also of common parts you have needed to change on that range.
Some techs find it easy to notice when a guide or plate is out of place, others dont. If you have a camera or camera Phone take photos and store them for future ref if it helps.
Before taking off wiring make a note of which connectors are empty or mark up connectors which are the same colour and size (some ricohs have these!!) can save a lot of problems and time!
Never let Dev overrun, change feed tyres. Test Clutch's and learn how to use input and output mode. Do the basic right keep the copier in a clean state I have seen some copiers which look in right mess which work fine but your saving up a whole host of problems even if the customers doesn't complain!
Read up about firmware and backing up nvram.
Always read the Notes with Ricoh Firmware often you need to update in a certain order or several firmwares must be updated to a certain level for the copier to work.Comment
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Also worth making sure you test all functions as far as possible depending on fault, that way you can prove or disprove the reported fault, nothing worse than investigating a reported fault when it was user error to begin with.Comment
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Find a cleaner machine to work on !~!Comment
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am sorry , am new and shocked.. where u from guys? are u using used machines like us in egypt? if yes i will need much help than the up new guy. most of the spare parts we buy are ruined. taflon roles makes toner stick on it and makes toner easily erased from paper. the machines we get we had to fix the drum unit if broken.. u know how? we get the stickey glue and put it with the small cotton which we take from the front of the cigerette so it can stick strongly.. i dunno if this the right page to write that.. but i still can not use the site wellComment
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