SC 500 on ricoh mp 171 spf

[RebelPhoenix]

This problem is vary bad. I live this problem (200 machine).

We sell the Ricoh AF1515MF it's good machine. We install the new machine (1515MF) machine work with new drum 80maybe 85K,
After Ricoh produce the MP161SPF, Some machine work same the airplane. (Polygon mirror motor sound) some machine drum unit fail 45-50K,
After Ricoh procuce the MP171SPF and I think produce the new drum unit. They are change drum unit.(Quality) Some machine has adress book data error. (Upload the new firmware, SP-5-801-014, SP5-846-050-Clear UCS Setting, Int. All Adress book) some machine work is good some machine not work. It's time We replace the controller board. And machine is work. And I installation a new MP171SPF after the only 5k IT's show the SC-500, Yes it's main motor lock code. But Main motor is work. Trouble source is drum unit. We use the our machine non original toner. I think this face drum unit is fail early. We open the drum unit We show the drum unit gears is fail. We replace the gears after drum unit maybe work 5-10k after dıztt gears is fail. We develop a solution for this trouble. I create a pdf document and share with you.

[RebelPhoenix]

I'm too scared. Because Ricoh produce the MP201SPF Now this model shred the gears maybe after the 2K
I hate the Ricoh, I hate the Ricoh MP161SPF, MP171SPF, MP201SPF,
I love Ricoh AF-1515MF, I have a machine. Machine counter is 640K. I replace the drum unit 60K machine work. I replace the hotroller, pressure roller, machine work. I don't change the main motor or polygon motor. MAchine is work. He is running record(guinness)

[teebee1234]

I've never had this problem with these models. If they're OEM then you should warranty them. Check with tech support for any calls they've received on this issue, maybe there was a defective run during manufacturing and only affecting certain markets.

I jinxed myself, I had an SC500 yesterday on the mp171. PCU was locked tight and some developer leakage out of it. I'll inquire around the office and see if anyone else is having an issue with these.

[satia]

Hi,
Remove the all developer and use half of the developer then you try, may be problem will fix.

[teebee1234]

Hi,
Remove the all developer and use half of the developer then you try, may be problem will fix.

You don't rebuild these pcu's, the entire assy is replaced. In any case, removing half of the developer from any unit, any manufacturer will make it non functional.

[Anteman74]

Actually i had SC500 on a 1515 a couple of weeks ago, the customer had ignored the "replace drum" message for a long time, i replaced it with a new pcu, still SC 500, it was the main motor, had to replace it too. Probably gone broken after thousands of copies with overload from the old pcu.
And about MP161 and MP171, we have a lot of these machines, i do not recall having SC500 on none of these.

[houserman]

I think the problem is with the PCU. Maybe they changed something inside the PCU so it can work on 1515 and also on 201 but they didn't do a good job. Now I'm having big problems with a lot of PCU's regarding SC 500. The PCU is locked because the gears that rotate drum and development roller are damaged ( developer is spilling on the gears ). We hope that Ricoh will fix the problems because we have more than 3000 machines ( 1515-161-171-201).

[Robinh]

I think that the gears in the lower developing unit are weaker in the newer drum units, that's why the 1515 worked fine. After you install a new drum unit in a 1515 it could have the same problem. I used after market toner for five years in the 1515's and it worked great. But after having several drums fail around 20k copies I switched to OEM toner. With OEM toner the drums are reaching 50k again and I have fewer problems with toner spillage.

The dev units that fail, seem to have too much toner packed into them which binds up the agitators and strips out the gears. I wonder if these machines could be adjusted to work better with after market toner?

[CrowoodIndustries.com]

Its normally where the chamber where the mag roller meets the drum

I agree with Robinh, I have had this problem a few times and it is always the same, compatible toner mixes and congeals with the developer and locks the unit solid.
The problem can be cleared by stripping the drum apart from the dev unit and cleaning out the unit.
Don't empty the dev tank, your just cleaning out the chamber not the whole unit, and don't worry about what small amount of dev you may loose when cleaning out the chamber it should be ok when you re-assemble.

Also please excuse the plug, we sell oem and compat toner to trade only. Please feel free to visit the website at Home

[jonezy999]

I wonder if these machines could be adjusted to work better with after market toner?

I would have thought if they could work better with after market toner, then Ricoh would have designed them to use that type of toner.

[Robinh]

I agree with Robinh, I have had this problem a few times and it is always the same, compatible toner mixes and congeals with the developer and locks the unit solid.
The problem can be cleared by stripping the drum apart from the dev unit and cleaning out the unit.
Don't empty the dev tank, your just cleaning out the chamber not the whole unit, and don't worry about what small amount of dev you may loose when cleaning out the chamber it should be ok when you re-assemble.

Also please excuse the plug, we sell oem and compat toner to trade only. Please feel free to visit the website at Home

The problem I have is that the gears that drive the agitating rollers in the lower dev unit are stripped out by the time you get an SC500 code. According to my parts manual you cannot buy the gears, they come as part of a lower dev unit ass'y. Back in the day when I worked for a local dealership we used aftermarket toner exclusively with Konica copiers. We had some trouble with Toshiba, but found if we used the aftermarket developer along with the toner we could make it work. Margins are tight so you need to find every angle you can get. But when the toner causes my drum unit to fail before I get 50% of it's life, I can't do that.

If you work for an aftermarket toner company, do you have any advice for how we can use your product without destroying the PCU?

Thanks!