Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

[jsulliva]

Replaced all 4 PCUs and cleaned Intermediate Transfer Belt not long ago. Thread about that here: http://www.copytechnet.com/forums/ri...r-message.html

It has now been a few thousand pages and following printing problem is occurring:
From SLEEP (cold) state, start printing a few hundred copies of a 1 page document. Starts out beautiful copies, then after 10-20 pages, it starts getting pages that are poorly fused (my interpretation). I.e. part of the image is not there, and stuff/image is smeared down the page. Blotchy image area even feels physically rough (I can tell a bad page by feel). One or two pages will be bad, then a few good, then a few bad. And so it goes.
Bad area is always at the top/leading edge of the page, typically from center going towards the left side of the page.
Please see attachment for samples that I scanned.

Background: Printer page counts are 63787 / 55031 / 8756 (what are these numbers?).
Printing in this case is simplex (one sided, not duplex).
Paper is 24 pound (heavy high quality paper) - size is 8. 1/2 x 11.
Page is mostly pictures and almost all printing is done with at minimum several small pictures on each page - and mostly duplex.
Not a typical all-black 5 % coverage text usage type of print job.
About 10% usage is high color coverage on card stock from the bypass tray (simplex).

I have set printer default for Tray 1 as Thick #2 (24-28 pound paper) and this does not seem to help.

Fuser life should be 100,000 pages and I think I have long way to go but is this a sign that the fuser is worn out anyway? Perhaps because of always using heavy paper and high color coverage? Or should I be looking elsewhere?

Thank you,
John

[Iowatech]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Not sure what the problem is, but as to what those print count numbers mean I can help there.
63787 / 55031 / 8756: the first number is the total pages printed, the second number is the total black and white prints, and the third number is the total number of color prints.

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Thank you.
These numbers are from the top of the "Print Config" Test Page.
It has occurred to me you must be mistaken for this model of printer.

After checking my numbers, my first thought was that the printer could not count correctly as almost all pages are printed with at least some color i.e. counter #3 would be very low.
And I go through the three colors of toner almost as fast as black.
I do now see that the first number is indeed the sum of the second and third numbers.
Ratio is 100% / 86% / 14%

Could it be Total / Color / B&W?
That would actually be in the ballpark for the usage of this printer.

Thank you,
John

[sandmanmac]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

I haven't dealt with many of the printer models in the Ricoh Line, I'm a copier-based guy, and paper weight, etc. issues aren't my strong suit. It's usually just a trial and error type of thing for me.
However, it's very apparent to me that the fuser temp is dropping as the pages go through, and therefore not 'fusing' completely. It seems a bit strange to me that it's happening on the 24lb paper you say you're using, with the setting on "thick", so I might recommend playing around with a few other settings if available - or better yet, using the bypass (at least for a test of the theory) because I'm pretty sure there's at least a "thick 3" setting there that should slow the printer down enough to keep up -after-all, that's basically all we're trying to do here with the thickness settings, is slow down the machine in order for the temperature to recover.

Good luck. Hopefully it helps.

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Thank you for the suggestion.
I will experiment with it - I had not thought of slowing the feed through the fuser as a (the?) way of getting the fusing temp up.
I will have to experiment next time I print a large batch.
I had thought when I printed a large batch that that would be the best way to get the temp up and evened out - and avoid this problem.
But of course the paper and toner going through cools it.
Maybe it is just the fuser getting old (a little sooner than I had expected) and needs to be replaced.

Thanks again.
John

[sandmanmac]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Thank you for the suggestion.
I will experiment with it - I had not thought of slowing the feed through the fuser as a (the?) way of getting the fusing temp up.
I will have to experiment next time I print a large batch.
I had thought when I printed a large batch that that would be the best way to get the temp up and evened out - and avoid this problem.
But of course the paper and toner going through cools it.
Maybe it is just the fuser getting old (a little sooner than I had expected) and needs to be replaced.

Thanks again.
John

Just to clarify. If you compare the print speed of regular paper setting to that of a "thick 2", or "thick 3", it will (or should) be slowed by 50-60% or more. This is how the fuser is generally able to offset the cooling effect that the thicker paper passing through has on it.Another cause of your fusing issue could also be caused if you're not using Oem toner Despite popular opinion they are NOT designed to perform "as well or better than Oem brands" regardless of what they say. Oem brands will not only provide higher yields, but also Fuse better and prolong the life of consumables (like fusers and drums) - although the use of compatible brands in many stand-alone B&W printers is not nearly as much of an issue

[Bantams]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Is it printing onto Thick Paper (Card) if so set paper type to thick 2 and card stock in the user tools paper settings and tell the driver you are using card before pressing print.

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Thank you for the suggestion.

My problems are not when printing cardstock.
For Cardstock, I do tell the drivers it's CS, use the bypass tray, and no duplex, although I have not set anything special in the printer settings for CS. I can't say I never had problems with CS but I printed a few hundred pages lately (several batches of 50 pages) and don't remember any.

Problems occur when printing on high quality, fairly heavy 100-bright white paper. Paper comes from the main paper tray cassette (Tray 1 -only tray I have besides the bypass tray) and printing is duplexed.
IIRC Thick 1 is for 24-28 pound paper which seemed appropriate for what I am doing.
Thick 2 was for even heavier paper (I don't have the book handy at the moment).
I use HammerMill Color Copy Digital Paper (oops - just noticed it's 28 not 24 pound paper - my mistake).
For Cardstock, I use HammerMill Color Copy Digital Cover (80 pound). I think the printer is not rated for the 100 pound paper, so I don't use it. Expensive paper but it looks and feels great.

And responding to another comment about toner.
I admit - I am not using OEM toner but I have been using this toner for some time before the problems started. Wish I knew where I could get known OEM toner in bulk at a reasonable price, but that's a whole other topic.

Thank you.
John

[qbert69]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

I recently picked up a Ricoh CL4000DN (base model #G104) at a local thrift store for around $30. It had a low print count of under 2k copies total. Even had toner bottles full. Problem was, when I tested it, it had something very similar to yours--toner offset at the fuser on the backside of the copy. Come to find out, the oil supply roller that heats up and supplies silicone oil for keeping the fuser hot roller and pressure roller/belt clean. Anyway, Ricoh had a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on a redesigned cleaning section. I replaced that section and everything works the way it should now!TSB G104 – 014R.pdf

Attached, you will find the TSB in PDF format.


GOOD LUCK!


PS--It's on page #4 of the PDF!

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Thank you for the information and the TSB. You got an amazing deal on that printer! I will look into it. Did you replace the parts in the fuser or the whole fuser? If parts, where did you get them (and how much were they)?
Thanks again.
John

[qbert69]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Fusing / Fuser Problem?

Thank you for the information and the TSB. You got an amazing deal on that printer! I will look into it. Did you replace the parts in the fuser or the whole fuser? If parts, where did you get them (and how much were they)?
Thanks again.
John

I'm a Ricoh/Savin tech (newbie--only about a year now!)...when I see something I can help someone with, I try! If you have a nearby tech shop that deals with ordering any parts for Ricoh/Savin/Lanier/Gestetner, they should be able to order the parts for you without too much hassle! Taking it apart and putting it together probably took me all of 15 minutes at the most!....Just remove 3 shoulder and 1 regular screw to take the top cover off the fuser unit....make sure it is cool first! Then, two screws will remove the cleaning section to be replaced by the new one!

But again, let me give you another option here which you might find a bit more attractive!

My cleaning section re-build "kit" cost me around $85, with tax included.

-OR- you could go this route!

PROVANTAGE: Ricoh 402321 CL4000DN/SP 410DN Maintenance Kit Type 4000 100K Page Yield

This is a total maintenance kit would be far more attractive, since it has the complete fuser, what looks like 3 feed tires, fan filters, transfer roller, etc.

I'd say get the maintenance kit at Provantage and keep the old fuser for parts!....bushings, bearings, fuser lamp, casing, thermistor, etc.

In other words, save the time, spend a little bit more, but you'll have some spare parts!

When I was waiting for my self-assembled "kit", the part I had to wait the longest for was the newly re-designed frame...probably 4 weeks or so!

Order from Provantage....I have ordered from them before and they are reputable and ship in a timely manner!

I have ordered Verbatim toner from them for an HP 2605DN that I have. Don't order Tally-Genicom....it's crap!

A note on Ricoh toner.....ONLY ORDER RICOH, since it is designed to work specifically with their toner-developer system! Ordering the wrong toner can have a drastic reduction in the life of your developer!


GOOD LUCK!!!