C4503 PCU conversion

[copiercop]

Is anyone aware of any conversions for the black and color PCU's in the C4503/5503 series? Ricoh's pricing is ridiculous.........

[ruben]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

I've looked a little into it, I could not find a mod yet. The drums are supposed to last the entire life of the machine, but I've had them fail quickly, especially after the ITB cleaning unit clogged and leaked all over all drums. (Ricoh sent us spares on warrenty).

I also looked into using the 2003 type drums, you can use the BK 2003 in place of a colour 2003 but no larger models, they are different. It might work if you replace just the drum cylinder, but I haven't tried.

[anothertech]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

I've looked a little into it, I could not find a mod yet. The drums are supposed to last the entire life of the machine,

The drums are supposed to last the life of the machine? Where did you get that from?

[ruben]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

The drums are supposed to last the life of the machine? Where did you get that from?

This is what Ricoh UK are telling us. I know that the life of the drum is rated at 400k (for black) but we have seen them go quicker, and also sometimes longer, than that.

A PM replacement of 400k (BK) and 270k (colour), to me, is a lot better for the cost.

[SargeNZ]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Ricoh New Zealand have a conversion procedure. It's about 10 pages long and time consuming, with various things that can ruin the entire PCU along the way if you do them wrong. It might be cheaper to purchase a whole 3503 for a spares donor, buy the time you include 4 drums and a fuser, as well as a DF that can go on a 5503, it looks pretty good. As well as all the motors and annoying little parts that would be backordered otherwise.

[copiercop]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Ricoh New Zealand have a conversion procedure. It's about 10 pages long and time consuming, with various things that can ruin the entire PCU along the way if you do them wrong. It might be cheaper to purchase a whole 3503 for a spares donor, buy the time you include 4 drums and a fuser, as well as a DF that can go on a 5503, it looks pretty good. As well as all the motors and annoying little parts that would be backordered otherwise.

Seems kind of pricey to purchase an entire machine as a parts "donor". We have 80-90 of these in the field....some of which are doing volumes that would bring these PCU's to yield in two years. There has to be a more cost effective way to address this. Any other thoughts?.....thanks for all the feedback.

[Oze]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Seems kind of pricey to purchase an entire machine as a parts "donor". We have 80-90 of these in the field....some of which are doing volumes that would bring these PCU's to yield in two years. There has to be a more cost effective way to address this. Any other thoughts?.....thanks for all the feedback.

As Sarge stated....factor in the price of a full set of drums and a fuser and you could buy a 3003 as a doner.
I've seen the ITB dumping ruin a pcdu already and the drum was only @48k.
So far as we are aware there is no way to mod a black pcu for color............................................. ..for now

[Max]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Quite a few companies order complete new copiers for donation purposes as it works out a lot cheaper in the long run.

[copiercop]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Quite a few companies order complete new copiers for donation purposes as it works out a lot cheaper in the long run.

This can not possibly be cost effective. We have 90 or so of these in the field...some doing significant volume, requiring us to replace the PCU's twice in the machine's life cycle. We were merely inquiring if a solution was available...ala C4501/4502 PCU conversion, which is quite effective. How can we maintain a service margin by ordering entire machines for parts?

[slimslob]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

This can not possibly be cost effective. We have 90 or so of these in the field...some doing significant volume, requiring us to replace the PCU's twice in the machine's life cycle. We were merely inquiring if a solution was available...ala C4501/4502 PCU conversion, which is quite effective. How can we maintain a service margin by ordering entire machines for parts?

If you do a little searching, you can find a low meter count operational used machine for around $500-$600. This is often less than some boards replacements will cost. 2 or 3 uses as a parts source and you are ahead cost wise.

[Gift]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Ricoh New Zealand have a conversion procedure. It's about 10 pages long and time consuming, with various things that can ruin the entire PCU along the way if you do them wrong. It might be cheaper to purchase a whole 3503 for a spares donor, buy the time you include 4 drums and a fuser, as well as a DF that can go on a 5503, it looks pretty good. As well as all the motors and annoying little parts that would be backordered otherwise.

Any chance to share this intel? I had a look and thought it wouldn't be much effort to mod the units but after closer inspection I saw that the dimensesion beween gears/shafts seem slightly different so the BK/COL body is not interchangeable due to these drive related issues. The only thing I can imagine is that you might be able strip the PM relevant parts of a BK unit in order to refurb a COL drum unit but I haven't tried yet nor wouldn't call it a "conversion".

Having a set of PM parts beeing more expensive than a new machine - kinda reminds me of an argument "why people shouldn't buy cheap inkjet/laser home office devices"...

[Richariri]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

If you do a little searching, you can find a low meter count operational used machine for around $500-$600. This is often less than some boards replacements will cost. 2 or 3 uses as a parts source and you are ahead cost wise.

that's what we do for MP C3300, 5000's etc.

But the newer machines certainly don't work out cheaper, not in the long run. Because you're left with a bare carcass that no-one will buy off you and you'll have to pay ridiculous prices to have recycled.


On the subject of this thread I was at an interview the other day and the service manager mentioned that they do convert xx03' drums from black to colour, he mentioned it was pretty complicated though.
Personally we've only had black drums fail so far. As soon as I swap out a colour I'm going to try see what I can compare between the two scrap drums (and will post it here because i'll most likely need a little help)

[Gift]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

As soon as I swap out a colour I'm going to try see what I can compare between the two scrap drums (and will post it here because i'll most likely need a little help)

I'll follow this thread and try to participate once the first patient is on the table.

[benalvarez]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

As I recall when I worked for Ricoh there is a conversion for K to C,M,Y drums. When the plug is analyzed at the end of the drum, the K connection is square with a steel bar embedded in the plastic connection, this bar has to be filed off, as well as given a slant in order to get into the slanted hole, the color drums have a slant on the connection, remove the color drum to make sure the slant is the same. Next you will have to change two wires, I'm going off of memory and I threw the instructions away, however, there are only four wires, giving you a possibility of a limited number of variations (15). These wires are under the drum that make the connection to the mfp. One screw has to be removed to disconnect the connector, take one color drum out, and see where the wires are in relation to the plug, to extrapolate a K drum into a color drum. I have personally done the conversion at least 50 times and it could save you a ton in cash. ""Caution"", if you don't file off the K drum at the appropriate angle you could break the connector in the mfp, very costly, time consuming, and a pain to replace the female connector in the mfp. Hope this helps.

[Zaxxon]

Re: C4503 PCU conversion

Whats the cost difference on these, K contra CMY?