Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

[michaeljwyo]

Hi all - I did search through the forum exhaustively trying to figure this one out. Actually I may have some ideas gathered through my searching. Here's what's going on. This unit was working fine. Then the black toner ran out. Don't ask me why this would have any bearing but this is what the customer has told me. The black toner ran out. She changed it. They use only OEM toner. Since she changed it, the machine will only print half a page. I mean, the whole page runs through but only the top half of what should be there is there...after about the halfway point in the page it fades til it's not readable. She did say it was happening with black. I asked her to try printing in color. The same thing happens even when printing in color....so that rules out the toner pump...unless all 4 toner pumps are bad, right? It looks like there can be issues with old toner gathering on the mirrors in the imaging unit. Could that cause this? The other thing I've seen talked about is the transfer belt. Does it sound like it could be the transfer belt? I haven't even been over there to look at it so I'm just trying to gather info so I know what to look for. The above problems seem like something that would happen gradually, and not just out of the blue when she changed the toner.
So what do you guys think? Is there something I can try to prove the theory? Is there some programming I can try in the SP modes? Maybe "enforce toner adding"?

Michael

[rsyarcia]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

Can you post a copy of a Printer SP test page - 1103-2 or sample copy.

[michaeljwyo]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

Thanks for the reply! Yes I will go over there this afternoon and get a test page or sample copy.

[rsyarcia]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

that's better..

[JustManuals]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

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[michaeljwyo]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

Okay guys here you go. Please pardon the quality....the only scanner I have here at my office is an older HP Laserjet 3100 printer/fax machine. You will definitely get the idea, though. First picture is the original. 2nd picture is the copy of that original made on the copier...so you can see the fade. Meanwhile I also tried to "copy" the back of a black binder. Should have been a solid black copy. That's the 3rd picture. Check THAT out!! Bizarre!!! I also found out from the customer that this actually started BEFORE she changed out the black toner. She changed the black toner BECAUSE of this problem...she thought it would fix it.

So NOW what??
original.JPGcopy.JPGsolid black.JPG

[ptrflrs]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

i work on a lot of the previous models like the mpc2500, 3000, 3500, 4500, 4000 etc... and it looks like the laser shutter is not fully open blocking part of the laser writing or the transfer belt lever is not fully engaged causing uneven belt pressure against the drum. i would eliminate those 2 first if your drum and developing are not at fault.

[rsyarcia]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

[QUOTE=ptrflrs;333498]i work on a lot of the previous models like the mpc2500, 3000, 3500, 4500, 4000 etc... and it looks like the laser shutter is not fully open blocking part of the laser writing or the transfer belt lever is not fully engaged causing uneven belt pressure against the drum. i would eliminate those 2 first if your drum and developing are not at fault.[/QUOTE,]
X2 chck the laser unit.

[michaeljwyo]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

Great! At least it gives me a starting point. I will check those things and post back with results.
Thanks!!

Michael

[michaeljwyo]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

Solved!! Ok here's what I found and you guys can still be of some help. Upon opening the right door, I found the the paper transfer roller unit was not in its place but had fallen and was down at the bottom inside of the door. This was also something I had failed to mention. I had forgotten they had called me over to ask about that too. Back then (2 weeks ago) I just put the paper transfer roller unit back in its place. The white plastic snap on the left edge was still in tact and it appeared that is what holds it in place. Anyways....I discovered today the paper transfer roller unit does not want to stay in place. On the OTHER edge of it (the edge opposite the side with the white plastic snap) it won't stay in place. I don't see a broken plastic snap or anything over on that side so I'm not completely sure what holds THAT side of the paper transfer roller unit in place. I know when the door is open and leaned back, the unit will sit where it's supposed to and the top edges rest against springs. So I'm not sure what is missing there. Is there a piece broken on the paper transfer roller unit itself? Or is there a broken or missing piece on the paper transfer unit itself. I took a piece of scotch tape and placed it across the top on the right side just so the the paper transfer roller unit would stay in place and then shut the door. And all is well. However it concerns me and I'm sure they would like it fixed the right way so my question is....do I need to find a paper transfer roller unit? Do I need to find a paper transfer unit? Both? Anyone else who works on these experience the "paper transfer roller unit that keeps falling out" ?

Thanks
Michael

[TonerMunkeh]

Re: Ricoh MPC3300 only printing half pages

If the roller is falling out the part broken is D029 6316, it's a little white plastic stopper that holds the transfer roller in position. If that's gone, the roller holder itself may be damaged, that part number is D025 6281, the roller itself is D087 6202. Another cause I've had for this is the locating lugs on the machine side being damaged also. Their part number are D029 6318 and 6319.