Sharp MX-2700N Plank Page Printing and Copying

[Tech2002]

I've got a machine that when printing or copying a large job, prints fine for lets say 50 of a 100 pages then begins to print blank pages. This is B&W or Color.

It does this whether printing or copying. It also, will print/copy fine, and then will image a part of the page or again, not at all.

Has anyone run into this before?

Also, when I went to printout a SIMMS Report, it came out blank.

Help appreciated.

Thank you.

[Dark Helmet]

I would want to look at your transfer belt and the transfer belt drive section. There is a clutch and shaft that has been known to fail. The shaft becomes worn and could cause the belt to not cycle properly. Use sim 6-3 to operate the transfer belt preasure release. Trip the front door remove the waste toner and watch it cycle.

If it's a problem with the clutch and shaft you have to rip out the main drive unit as far as i know.

My guess is your machine does a big job and then it runs process control. When this happens it puts the belt into black and color positions. When it cycles it goes Black/Color/Free (no contact with drums).

If it's not that it's possible your LSU shutters are not opening.
You can use sim 6-1 LSUSS to check the shutter operation. You should hear them slap open.

[OMD-227]

Yep, Lawrence is right.
I'm thinking Main drive unit too.

What is the serial number of your engine? There was a production change in June 2008 for the modified Main Drive Unit. The original design had a problem with the clutch shaft erroding the E ring & bushing for the clutch shaft. Over time, the errosion of the E ring & bushing would cause the transfer belt up/down clutch to not fully drive the transfer belt into its correct position (color/black/free), or would cause it to slip backwards, therefore not holding the correct tension on the shaft, meaning the transfer rollers would slowly drift away from contact with the drums.
---- The symptom you have mentioned of prints starting good, then starts to go blank is a classic example of this problem.
The new modified Main Drive unit has a different clutch shaft & an added poly slider, which prevents this from happening.
Another symptom of a main drive unit starting to wear out is L4-06 codes starting to appear often.

There is a small chance that it could be a shutter problem, but if your machine was manufactured before June 2008, I would bet that the problem is a worn-out Main Drive Unit.

The modified main drive unit is available in 2 options.... The mechanical unit, or the whole assembly. Always go the whole assembly as it is so much easier to replace.
The part numbers for your 2700 are: Mechanical Unit CFRM-1186DS74, whole assembly unit CFRM-1186DS55. The first main drive unit replacement you do will take over an hour. I have now got that down to 15mins fully completed as I do 2 per week on average.

The same situation applies for the MX2300, 3500, 4500 machines too. Although the 3500/4500 machines have a different part number.

[Tech2002]

wassa -

Appreciate the input. Talked to Sharp Tech Support today. Usually I get a good hit from them - not so today.

I was figuring the issue to be more Board orientated but you're making sense about this. I must have been blessed because I have just never seen this before.

I will look to change out the Main Unit as suggested. I'll let you know what the outcome is.

Again, my thanks.

[OMD-227]

I know its a big job if you haven't changed out a main drive unit before, but take it out and check the shaft, bushing & E ring area that is pictured above. If the shaft has alot of free-play and the shaft has obvious wear cutting into it, that is definitely the problem.
I have also seen one so bad that the shaft was completely worn off, causing the bushing to fall down inside the main drive unit. This was a continuous L4-06 code.
The main thing you do first is confirm the serial number. If it is before the mod change, definitely look at the main drive unit. If the serial number is after June 2008, problem is most likely transfer belt unit, shutters, shutter solenoid, or the belt up/down clutch itself. I am yet to see a faulty main drive unit that has had the mod done listed above, even if if the counters are extremely high.

Another test you can do is run sim 64-05 self test print. Set it for about 20 sets. It will usually start perfectly, then the yellow & magenta will fade off first as they are at the left side. I have noticed that this test is a good example of the clutch shaft slipping, as the transfer rollers start to drift away from the drums.

[Tech2002]

This is exactly what was happening with the Colors - not all the time, but still. When I was printing something predominately Yellow, the pages would first come out great, then would fade on the edge, leaving a shade of magenta and yellow. Weird kind of a thing.
Other times, the job would continue but there wasn't anything on the paper for image.

The other thing, was when I was printing 11 x 17, the imaging on the right-side of the page was fouled.

By the way, the machine production date is 06/2007

[OMD-227]

If that is not a faulty/worn out main drive unit......... I give up.

Every single symptom you have listed is a classic example of it, including the fact your machine was the original production run.

When you remove the main drive unit, you will see obvious damage & problems at that shaft end, pictured above.

If you need any advice on replacing the MDU, let me know. I've done ALOT of them.

[Tech2002]

wassa - Lawrence - thanks again for input.

[OMD-227]

You got that Main Drive Unit installed yet?

Just curious.......................

[Tech2002]

Ordered out the Unit for replacement and repair. Client, in their infinite wisdom, thought the machine was too slow, and they thought they had too many problems with the machine, decided to ditch me as a vendor and updated the machine - not with me. About two weeks ago, they had a problem with the Fuser. The call that came in was that they needed service, but it didn't appear it was urgent. So instead of stopping the day of the call - offer 4-hour response time, went the next day. The secretary told me that she had to go to Staples to run the job and it cost them $500.00. I asked the next logical question, why didn't you let me know it was an emergency, that you needed the machine operational now!

The machine was lease with the knowledge that it was not a fast machine, but would handle the volume about 7 to 8 k more B&W then Color. It has handled their usage, but not without issues when you get people that don't listen to you when you explain the do's and don'ts of the machine, and they do what they want until the machine either brakes down or you catch them doing things that aren't supported. Copy Tech Cop.

Example, running 110 lb Stock out of Tray-One, doing Two-Sided, 500 at a clip. I had just left the account and had to go back and do repairs related to stupidity. They were stressing the machine where they should not have been.

So at this point, I will never know if the suggestions would have worked, however, my believe is that they would have.

[OMD-227]

Oh no, thats terrible news.

I've had crazy-ass clients like that too over the years & they will never learn..... even with another brand machine, so dont worry too much. They can be someone else's problem now.

I'm guessing that the new vendor has taken your old machine with them?

[Tech2002]

Yes they did. Was told about things this past Tuesday. I was told that the new vendor picked up the machine. They got a brand new fuser I put in just the week before.

I sent an email first saying that I was sorry to hear. Then I sent another email that was a little more to the point financially - that I needed a copy of their Meter Reading so I could Bill for Qtly Color, and that I was going to let go Network time I didn't bill for but have thought better of.

I would have just walked away but they were killing me with kindness that was rapped in dog dodo. Such is life.

[OMD-227]

Lets just hope the pressure levers are down on the new fuser, while it sits in storage. Nice flat spots await the unsuspecting.

If you cant get a final M/R, definitely bill your network repair time. Hey, it would have still cost them if they got someone else in, if it wasn't you.

Anyway, just remember that fix for the main drive unit if you ever see that problem again.

[Tech2002]

As always, I appreciate the help & input!