1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

[sandmanmac]

Had a problem today that I experienced once before which I thought, at the time, had to be a one-off.
customer reported that "add toner" condition wouldn't clear. I noticed there was no 'spring pressure' when pushing in toner hopper. removed top cover to see the clutch, and found the spring, and supply shaft completely compressed. No matter what I tried it will not come loose.
The first time this happened I was able to free it by removing c-clip at the back, spraying a little WD40, and pulling with all my strength from the front with a pair of pliers. I still broke a small piece of the plastic clutch housing, but was able to repair with some glue, and it's held for almost a year now. This time the housing broke badly, and since it is basically part of the frame, the machine has become an over-sized paper weight.
What seems to have happened is the plastic toner supply shaft had gotten hot somehow (from the clutch?) and basically seized within the clutch assembly, and no longer made sufficient contact with the toner bottle to keep up the supply.
Just wondering if there are any bulletins on this one? Anyone else ever experienced this? Any tricks to removing the clutch shaft without destroying the housing like I did?
While I generally love these boxes. I've had this issue twice now, out of maybe 50 in the field. So I'm thinking I can't be alone.

Thanks

[Zeldaman]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

Hi there!
About 2 month ago my fellow had exactly the same problem. His solution was spraying the whole assembly with socalled "tunerspray", waiting ca.5 minutes and then spray with siliconoil. Waiting again and then carefully (very carefully!) hammering it out. He said the only thing you need (xmt the sprays) is patience. Thank God it was the 1. case in over 9 years.
Greetings...

[seansbar]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

Yes I have done this once on a MP161, broke the frame. Service Manager had to find a new machine to replace the "paperweight"

I don't see any way to get this out without brute strength. Maybe remove the scanner and cut with a hacksaw blade?

[sandmanmac]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

Thanks for the feedback guys.
It's amazing that a problem like this wouldn't be recognized by the manufacturer and some sort of 'fix' introduced in the way of a different type of plastic for the shaft or even metal (??). It's the only mechanical problem I can recall seeing on any machine that happens under normal usage and can end up rendering it useless

[ucinn]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

Thanks for the feedback guys.
It's amazing that a problem like this wouldn't be recognized by the manufacturer and some sort of 'fix' introduced in the way of a different type of plastic for the shaft or even metal (??). It's the only mechanical problem I can recall seeing on any machine that happens under normal usage and can end up rendering it useless

I had one that I couldn't get out with hammer, WD or nothing. I took that coupler that contacts the toner bottle and bent it at the end of the shaft so now one side of it contacts the toner bottle and turns it. Been that way for a couple years now and still working fine.

[sandmanmac]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

I had one that I couldn't get out with hammer, WD or nothing. I took that coupler that contacts the toner bottle and bent it at the end of the shaft so now one side of it contacts the toner bottle and turns it. Been that way for a couple years now and still working fine.

Interesting. Hopefully I never have this situation again, but that's worth a try if I do. It could certainly buy me a little time if nothing else. Thanks

[Gary Bowen]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

Just had one of these this past week, and other than that had one several years ago. I will tell you what happened in both cases. The first time the customer called and said the machine kept asking for toner AND the Front Cover would not stay closed. When I got there and opened the machine the Toner Bottle had been loaded with the Black Cap still on - these bottles are fairly pliable and it would bend enough to go in the machine. However, they jammed the Toner Supply Shaft completely inside the Toner Clutch and seized the Toner Supply Shaft. I had to use a hammer to pound the shaft out from the back of the copier but this broke the front piece of the frame that holds the Toner Cllutch; I had to use crazy glue to refasten the broken piece; it has been holding for 2 yerars without incident (there is no stress on it and it holds the clutch in place). The same problem happened last week (this time we brought the machine to the shop for service). This customer lied about what happened, but they did mention that they had problem CLOSING THE FRONT COVER. Also there was a mark on the bottom of the Toner Bottle, where it engages the Toner Supply Shaft that suggests it was FORCED into the machine. The repair was again to epoxy the broken piece of the frame and to replace the Toner Clutch and Toner Supply Shaft. I am convinced that this problem is customer caused - they will deny any wrong doing but with good precall questions you may find out how it happened.

[sandmanmac]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

Just had one of these this past week, and other than that had one several years ago......

Thank a lot Gary! That explains a lot, and thinking about it, I'm almost positive that's what happened here. Both clients aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, but are also somewhat deceptive, and would never admit doing anything that foolish.
The first time it happened a year ago or so, I really had no feedback -I just went in and found it that way. Yesterday, the client did tell me the toner wasn't loading, and then the light would go out, and then she did admit to leaving the 'plunger' from old bottle in there, removed it, and the light went out again for a while. However, the bottle cap was also lying there with the plunger, and I've also wondered how/why the spring would be as compressed as it is, and the cap being left on would explain that. PLUS the fact that that the clutch Shaft is not so much 'melted' as I originally said, but more like "twisted".

Very enlightening for sure, and I will definitely have a few different lead questions the next time and "add toner" problem occurs on one of these.
Thanks again!

[zed255]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

To avoid damaging the frame you need to clip the head off the toner bottle drive shaft and then you can beat the shaft out from the front to the rear. Obviously you need to have the shaft available as a replacement item. I keep one in the car, done probably ten of these or so.

[sandmanmac]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

To avoid damaging the frame you need to clip the head off the toner bottle drive shaft and then you can beat the shaft out from the front to the rear. Obviously you need to have the shaft available as a replacement item. I keep one in the car, done probably ten of these or so.

That's another good suggestion I hadn't thought of. Thanks Zed.

[BLADE]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

I managed to poke a screwdriver blade into the circlip on the clutch to stop it turning then rotated the jammed shaft until the D lined up and it released without damage. May have been lucky, not sure I,d be able to do it again

[DiskCopy]

Re: 1515MF / MP161 toner clutch

4 years ago i had a similar problem with MP161. The black axis rotated inside the clutch.

Nothing worked to remove and keep intact the axis.

So , I removed the scanner and cutted it in 2 parts from the clutch.

Then , replaced to a new one.