MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

[Counsel]

Hey all,

Looking for some suggestions, I have two mpc6501's both in the last few months have been having sc445. Initially though toner scattering was causing the issue because it seemed like after cleaning the machine and cleaning the ITB the problem would go away, 1 machine has only done it twice in two months, but the machine I am having problems with started doing it a few weeks and now its about every other day. I think when we cleaned the ITB what actually made it go away was removing and reinstalling the ITB unit it would go for a while and then come back. The machien I am having the constant problem on only has 165k pages total on it so i wouldnt think it would be the itb motor or board but i guess its plausable. I am wondering if anyone else has had problems with itb on these machines these are the only two i have right now they replaced the mpc2062 models that these customers had before, so they are similiar but minor differences and they seem like junk to me nothing but problems since they were installed.

Hoping one of you guys can help.
thanks

[trottinbob]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

In general a sc445 is an ITB motor error. Look for something binding the belt ( lack of setting powder, encoder strip on back side of belt slightly ripped or damaged, belt slightly out of position and not being read by the encoder sensor, look at ITB cleaning unit blades and are the springs there? If all seems good at the ITB look below at the PTR and make sure the binding is not down there (I've seen a small staple get to the blade of the PTR and cause binding)

[blanka]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

im getting sc 400, 401,402, 403, 405 intermittently. Have pulled out transfer unit and cleaned up as initially thought toner dropping down from pcdus were the cause but came back 2 weeks later. Drums were rebuilt only because they failed early and mach has not done much. Am planning to replace id sensor in transfer unit and also to replace drum and devs for all colours as well. These machines are crap. Built nothing like a ricoh. Any salesman should be sacked for selling these.

[Counsel]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

I have the belt off 3 or 4 times to clean it and to make sure the encoder strip was ok, cleaned the id sensors and music sensor, made sure the blades brush were ok. However I didn't even think to take out the ptr and check it, the machine is so new i didn't suspect something like that. I would think a staple or something would damage the ptr enough to notice quality issues but of course it never codes when im there its always a day or 3 later which is what has me stumped because I would clean the itb and run 3500 pages through it before i left without a problem, then a few days after i leave it happens within 2k-3k pages. Thanks for the suggestion ill do a little digging tomorrow see what i come up with.

[pocket aces]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

I'm having the same problem 2 new machines. If I find something i will post .....

[Gift]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

Any salesman should be sacked for selling these.

As he said

I didn't have this particular SC so far but I recall that the service manual includes quite a description about what to consider if one needs to remove/pm the transfer unit.

Look for something binding the belt ( lack of setting powder

sounds like a good hint

[Counsel]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

ok so let me run this by you guys. When I have putting the belt back on I assumed this was like the old model and I used the yellow toner to coat the belt, I have never carried the setting powder because we also just used the yellow toner on the old model instead. Like any man I of course skipped the directions on this but now that I have read them I see it specifically says NOT to use the yellow toner on this machine to coat the belt. Which the reason given is because of dev in the toner, but I thought the old model had dev in the toner to.

So do you guys think this is as serious as the manual says and could be the cause. The quality is fine so I don't think it damaged the belt any but I am wondering if the blade and the yellow toner is now catching the belt instead of lubricating.

What do you guys think, probable or likely something else.

[trottinbob]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

I have not used the yellow toner as setting powder since the B132 model (3260/5560). You cited the reason , small % of dev in the mix.
I still use my same setting powder that I use on the drums from the B132 model days. Sorry I don't have the part number right now.

I really believe your problem is binding. Take a Real good look at the Cleaning Unit blades. They both have spring action and I have seen new Cleaning Units that upon CLOSE INSPECTION the lower cleaning blade's spring action was being restricted from full movement. Take it apart with the two screws that hold both the white and black brush rollers, get all the way down to the lube bar and carefully put back together and make sure both blades have good action. Powder the hell out of the blades, and when you put the transfer unit back onto the cleaning unit it should slide on NICELY. Now apply powder on the belt itself and rotate in, some more powder and rotate some more. It should FEEL nice and smooth, not tight at all.

[Counsel]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

I'm go inspect this one today, ya i dont even have setting powder this 6501 replaced the 3260 they had, in fact up until about 2 months ago all i had in this area was the 3260 models so the shop never ordered any setting powder. I don't know that I want to replace this belt until i get some if they yellow toner is causing the issue or damage the encoder strip. i think its b1329700 is the powder which i think it was the same powder as the 3260 was supposed to use.

I know i have taken the belt on and off several times it doesnt seem to bind when i turn it but it could be, I am also gonna check the ptr as suggested, and maybe replace the belt anyway when i get some proper powder. I ll let you know how it goes.

thanks for the insight

[dlums]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

Im having the exact same issue as we speak. Still have not found the fault.

[sakura]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

SC445 Image transfer motor error
The control board of the ITB motor belt generated signals that indicate
there is problem with the image transfer belt motor.
- ITB motor defective
- ITB control board defective
- ITB overloaded
- Encoder strip on the edge of the ITB damaged.
Have never used a powder on any C6501 I ever serviced - didn't have a lot of issues like SC445. Seems like a charge rollers springs problem - check out all of the rollers, sfafts for disposition and a belt itself for any signs of damage.
P.S. and yeh, don't forget to update a firmware to be on a safe side.

[Wishbone]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

We installed about 20 of these at the same time and 4 of them are throwing repeated 445 codes. Strange because the MPC6000's they replaced did not have this problem. The 2 itb cleaning blades are the same part number as the model before. I think maybe they changed the material or specs on the blade as each time a blade has flipped or has locked the belt up.

I have replaced both blades with new ones on the machines with repeated problems even though they where not where near due. So far so good.....

[dlums]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

Well finally we have got the machine up and running. Turns out that the tension belt behind the front cover was some how tightened so much that the motor could hardly turn freely. On loosening the belt a bit the SC code could be reset and the machine is now running like a well oiled machine. I have no idea how the belt got so tight but this seems to have been the issue.

Thank you to all of you for all the idea's and help you have given me.

Cheers
J

[Wishbone]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

tension belt behind the front cover

[Anfielddreaming]

Re: MPC6501 repeated sc445 issues.

I would have to say that these are in my opinion the worst machine Ricoh have produced we have only five in field and they give nothing but trouble I have done the factory training and that helped but the sooner these get replaced or the core faults fixed (dropping toner, unable to reach pm cycle) the better.