Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

[titanscout]

I have had two upper fuser roller heat sleeves tear on this unit over the last 8 weeks. I replaced the entire fuser about 6 weeks ago after the first one tore. I have read on CTN that this is a common problem. What exactly is going on with these fusers? Is it a defective part design? Can this be resolved?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

If you have not been replacing the oil supply roller, this could be your problem. These older machine will tear up a fusing belt in a matter of days, some cases hours, if the oil supply roller run dry.

[Imprestik]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

There is also a firmware fix for this issue

[Polo-022]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

How can it could be happen again...with a new fuser unit!!
No, this is not a common problem and firmware fixes hot roller problems...
(back to 2007..)
Check fuser bearings position, according to service manual...,tension springs,
the whole fuser generally, if it has been rebuilded..

[teebee1234]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

If the aluminum belt roller is installed backward then it will cause the belt to off track in short order.

[vargue]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

i replaced 3 fusers for these 3260 .the same thing happend and fuser is cheaper than belt . bad machine

[Gary Bowen]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

There are MANY Service Bulletins out on this problem. Energy Saver Mode must be set to ON for this machine and it must be set to its lowest setting. In other words, when this machine sits idle for more than 15 minutes it will need to warm back up. Heat places too much stress on this Fuser Unit. See the following TSB's and do not deviate from Ricoh's recommendations.

[Counsel]

Re: Ricoh 3260 fuser issues/heat sleeves keep tearing

If the aluminum belt roller is installed backward then it will cause the belt to off track in short order.

This is the number one cause I see when someone else rebuilt it, its easy to put that thing in backwards and it will fail usually pretty fast. I had one tear off a lot of belts I had to go through the whole nip procedure which seemed to fix it but later found the whole drawer was bent that later resulted in ptr and exit problems not sure that it caused the fuser. The nip check procedure is pretty easy and does help.