MP 171 polygon mirror motor noise and stuck toner supply shaft.

[Robinh]

I have two Aficio MP 171's with problems I've not seen before and wanted to run it past you guys.

First I have a one year old machine that makes too much noise from the polygon motor. I can duplicate the noise when I activate the mirror motor in diagnostics. Can I break that open and hit the motor with some silicone oil or something? I see a new motor costs $200.

I've taken the advice I got here and stopped using the aftermarket toner. My SC500 codes caused by the dev unit locking up are gone and the drums are lasting 50k again. I've noticed that the plastic used in the toner OEM bottles is more flexible and I have fewer problems with toner spilling around the bottle. Anyone have a good tip on where to get OEM toner for the best price?

I have a 171 where the toner supply shaft that drives the bottle has become jammed and will not drive the OEM toner. The coupler on the end of the shaft is spring loaded, but the shaft is stuck with the spring fully compressed. I took the back cover off and tried to drive the shaft back out by tapping on it. No luck there. I removed the cover on the exit section and tried pulling on the coupler but that didn't work either.

Before I get Neanderthal on that shaft I thought I better have a new one on hand. I put in an old aftermarket toner I had laying around and it worked. I believe the aftermarket toners is just a few millimeters longer and stiffer so it works where the softer OEM toner cart slips.

So what do you think? Am I on the right track? Any advice?

[ucinn]

I'd like to know on the stuck toner shaft also... I beat and pounded on that thing and couldn't get it out. I eventually took some vice grips and tried to break off the toner drive gear and couldn't do that, but it did bend it which allowed it to finally drive the bottle. Been working like that now for about a year with no more problems.. I just can't see how to get it out and why it won't just slide right out like it's supposed to.

[JustManuals]

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[Robinh]

Ucinn, nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I'll post whatever results I come up with.

Manuals4your, I already have the manual. The part number for the shaft is B129 1176. You can get one for $37 at Precision roller. Do you have anything to add to the thread other than an advertisement?

Thanks!

Robin

[Fearless V K]

from output modes, turn on the main motor, then energize the toner supply clutch while holding the stuck shaft tightly. this should spin the shaft housing until the d-shaft lines up with the d-shaped housing and it will pop back out.

[Robinh]

from output modes, turn on the main motor, then energize the toner supply clutch while holding the stuck shaft tightly. this should spin the shaft housing until the d-shaft lines up with the d-shaped housing and it will pop back out.

Fearless, That sounds like an awesome tip! But I think I will wait until I have the new shaft just to be safe.

Thanks!

[Herrmann]

you will need a new clutch too, the reason why the shaft sticks is that the inner ring of the clutch breaks and leaves the shaft too much room to cant and so blocking it all.
A word of a warning: do not(!) try to hammer the shaft out of the clutch from the backside of the mashine to the front, it will lead to a broken frame. The only secure way to release this beast is: remove the scanner assy, so you can access it from above, take a cutter and remove the plate formed part of the shaft, after that you can use a mandrel and a hammer to drive the shaft from the front to the backside of the mashine.

[Robinh]

you will need a new clutch too, the reason why the shaft sticks is that the inner ring of the clutch breaks and leaves the shaft too much room to cant and so blocking it all.
A word of a warning: do not(!) try to hammer the shaft out of the clutch from the backside of the mashine to the front, it will lead to a broken frame. The only secure way to release this beast is: remove the scanner assy, so you can access it from above, take a cutter and remove the plate formed part of the shaft, after that you can use a mandrel and a hammer to drive the shaft from the front to the backside of the mashine.

I tapped on it with a screw driver. I used to be a service manager and I my favorite thing to tell the guys was. 'You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet.' One of my guys broke a machine and told me he was 'cracking eggs'. I told him 'CRACK THEM DON'T BREAK THEM'!

Thanks for the tip!

Robin

[jivedancer]

Polygon motor noise is due to the air bearing failing replace the polygon motor

[seansbar]

you will need a new clutch too, the reason why the shaft sticks is that the inner ring of the clutch breaks and leaves the shaft too much room to cant and so blocking it all.
A word of a warning: do not(!) try to hammer the shaft out of the clutch from the backside of the mashine to the front, it will lead to a broken frame. The only secure way to release this beast is: remove the scanner assy, so you can access it from above, take a cutter and remove the plate formed part of the shaft, after that you can use a mandrel and a hammer to drive the shaft from the front to the backside of the mashine.

Wish I knew this, I did break the frame using too much force. Manager was not too happy, but good thing there was a spare machine at the shop.

[Robinh]

Polygon motor noise is due to the air bearing failing replace the polygon motor

Can anyone confirm that the part number on the MP 171 for this motor is #AX06-0344 or is it the same as the 1515 #AX06-0284? At around $150 to $200 that will eat up all my profit margin on the MA and the machine is only a year old. Has anyone had success trying to quiet a noisy motor or know where I can get a better deal on the motor?

Thanks!

Robin

[francisco]

you can try motor from af1013 it works

[teebee1234]

you will need a new clutch too, the reason why the shaft sticks is that the inner ring of the clutch breaks and leaves the shaft too much room to cant and so blocking it all.
A word of a warning: do not(!) try to hammer the shaft out of the clutch from the backside of the mashine to the front, it will lead to a broken frame. The only secure way to release this beast is: remove the scanner assy, so you can access it from above, take a cutter and remove the plate formed part of the shaft, after that you can use a mandrel and a hammer to drive the shaft from the front to the backside of the mashine.

LOL, I did exactly this a few months ago. What a pain!

[Gift]

Me too but there was no other way working to get the shaft out and I didn't expect to keep the frame healthy that's why I was already eqipped with a good sort of two-component glue to re-shape the clutch holder. Thaw was two years ago on a MP161 and the machine is still working fine^^

I didn't make any experiences with noisy polygon motows at the 161/171/201 series BUT I think most machines have a quite noisy, sometimes grinding-sounding main drive - even brand new/out of the box.

[Robinh]

I went back to see the machine with the noisy polygon motor. Seeing as I'm a stubborn type, I removed the copy tray and PS board under it to gain access to the laser unit, disregarded all the warnings in the manual and removed the polygon mirror. I even disassembled the mirror. Not a dang thing I could do to quiet it down. I'll be ordering a new one.

I was sweating bullets for a minute, when I put it back together it threw an SC-322. I'd pulled off the connector on the back of the laser ass'y. I couldn't reach it to plug it back in. But when I removed the back cover I saw that I could release the wire ties and get some slack on the cable to re-connect it. Machine worked but still noisy.

I haven't made it back to the machine with stuck toner clutch yet. But I did try the trick of turning on the main motor and engaging the toner clutch. I'll be trying that and giving feedback.

Thanks everyone, and have a great weekend!

Robin