[Misc] Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

[leonardob]

We've been facing lots of problem with the RICOH MP2550,

We have a installation with 3 machines in one customer. These machines were completely service before the installation and all consumable parts were changed . The machines have been striped down, cleaned and inspected

The initial problems we had were of severe paper jams on all places of the machine , we diagnosed (with time) bad paper quality and excessive paper dusting. With the new paper and after changing all paper feed/delivery components and cleaning all sensors it seems to be much better (but not fully solved)

Our real concern is the amount of developers we've changed and the print quality (shading) (see print Sample = back side of a duplex print) . On one device we have changed the developer 3 times in 75K (A4) pages , and Drum/Blade once (@ +/- 50K). We have been using original developers Type 28 , used the Katun Drum then changed to Original Drum , the devices still present the problems. This machine has a life count of 332K pages

On other device we've replaced twice the developers in 50K (A4) pages .. about to go to the 3rd one.this This machine has a life count of 291K pages

We would very much appreciate any idea or suggestion ... attached SMC (partial) report.

[Polo-022]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

Everything seems to be normal.
Drum/developer expected life is 60k.

[Elmo]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

Im presuming that both samples are from the machine
1 is a copy the other is a print out
the shading only appears on the copy
it suggests optic's as the problem
when ive had good print quality but poor copy quality it has always been the drum/developer
always use original drums compatibles donot seem to work well in this model
are you using original toner this again can cause problems
have you replace the transfer roller?

[leonardob]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

Everything seems to be normal.
Drum/developer expected life is 60k.

It can't be ... I'm changing developers every 25k pages .

[leonardob]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

Im presuming that both samples are from the machine
1 is a copy the other is a print out
the shading only appears on the copy
it suggests optic's as the problem
when ive had good print quality but poor copy quality it has always been the drum/developer
always use original drums compatibles donot seem to work well in this model
are you using original toner this again can cause problems
have you replace the transfer roller?

many thanks !!!
Both are printed documents in duplex mode on the same machine ... The machine as all Ricoh engines uses components of the AF 2027 and other series ... we have many of them installed (other series) and never had any issue using Katun products... We are using Katun Performance toner... I'll try the original one and send Katun a tech complain.. currently using original drum (problem persists)

[Polo-022]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

It can't be ... I'm changing developers every 25k pages .

When you use these "performance" products it is normal to change developer, drum every 20k copies.

[sandmanmac]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

This post would fit well into a handbook entitled something like "Perceived cost savings of compatible products".
How much have you saved by:

Rebuilding PCU's 3 times or more when it should be once?
Service call after service call for poor image quality?
Continuing to use the same inferior products and hoping for a different results?

Rebuild the PCU with OEM parts only- or better yet, swap in a type 1027 Oem unit. Replace the toner with OEM, and don't forget to dis-assemble the toner hopper and vacuum out all the remaining compatible crap, or it will degrade the dev...again.
Once this is done the PCU will run flawlessly - usually for well over 60k

[logrady2331]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

I agree with sandmanmac - use type 1027 pcu's, OEM toner, OEM heat rollers, aftermarket is okay for the rest of the consumables. I get well over (90-100k +) on every one out there. Also the occasional toner hopper ( I just replace the whole hopper - for what it costs it saves labor to not have to replace the parets in the old one). Great box in the correct environment.

[logrady2331]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

And for the record, I don't allow Katun ANYTHING in any machine in our population. Don't trust their parts or their toner. ALL aftermarket toner comes from N/A Trading, especially the MP35/4500/4k,5.1k toner. I actually like N/A toner for those models better than OEM.

[slimslob]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

When you rebuild the PCUs, you should completely cleaning all old toner and developer out. If you have used Katun, or any brand other than Ricoh or N/A, toner, you will need to also completely vacuum out, or replace, the toner bottle tray. Clean the filming from the development roller. Check the development roller gear, idler gear and the gears on the mixing shafts for wear. If there is wear or there is developer in the cavity around the mixing shaft gear, replace the development tray, development roller gear and the idler gear. They usually last at most 108 to 200K. Keep a set of these so you don't have to come back to replace them. If they need to be replaced, do not replace the developer unit you can replace them or you will have to use another bag of developer when you do replace them.

Remember, the 60K PM cycle for the PCU is based on A4 paper being loaded LEF. If you load it SEF, the drum and developer will need to be replaced sooner. Expect quality drums to start showing drum spots at about 90K of A4 LEF.

[leonardob]

Re: Print Quality Ricoh MP-2550 and Developers life

This post would fit well into a handbook entitled something like "Perceived cost savings of compatible products".
How much have you saved by:

Rebuilding PCU's 3 times or more when it should be once?
Service call after service call for poor image quality?
Continuing to use the same inferior products and hoping for a different results?

Rebuild the PCU with OEM parts only- or better yet, swap in a type 1027 Oem unit. Replace the toner with OEM, and don't forget to dis-assemble the toner hopper and vacuum out all the remaining compatible crap, or it will degrade the dev...again.
Once this is done the PCU will run flawlessly - usually for well over 60k