Considering a Sharp MX-317

[PCFSS&S]

Looking at a sharp mx-317 to run around 20k per month for one of my customers. What do you guys think of this 3 year old machine?

[lky1978]

Good running horse if using genuine consumables. Remember to replace feed rollers(tray 1), drum, developer, Drum blade, developer cleaning seal every 100k.

[Akitu]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

I'm not sure what machine you're referencing. That's not a valid model in Canada. Are you referring to the AR M-317 which is much older than 3 years, or the MX M-310 which is slightly older than 3 years, or the MX M-314 which is approximately 2-3 years old?

Either way, they're all based off the same engine, a solid little work horse. Maintenance cycles are 75-100k depending on engine speed, so 20k a month is right about where it should be.

[PCFSS&S]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

I'm not sure what machine you're referencing. That's not a valid model in Canada. Are you referring to the AR M-317 which is much older than 3 years, or the MX M-310 which is slightly older than 3 years, or the MX M-314 which is approximately 2-3 years old?

Either way, they're all based off the same engine, a solid little work horse. Maintenance cycles are 75-100k depending on engine speed, so 20k a month is right about where it should be.

Thanks guys, sorry, it is the "AR-M317", went to see it this morning, it is a simple, tight clean looking machine. Looks like it could be a work horse with genuine supplies. Thanks again.

[oldrn]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

I would suggest changing the default cassette to the bottom cassette rather than the top cassette - assuming it has 2 or more cassettes. The paper feed unit for the top cassette is not as easy to maintain as the lower cassettes.

Also, the toner yield is good on these but don't expect much warning before it runs out of toner. There is a toner gauge but it requires the user to manually access/check it periodically. Make sure the customer keeps a backup cartridge ready.

[Akitu]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

Thanks guys, sorry, it is the "AR-M317", went to see it this morning, it is a simple, tight clean looking machine. Looks like it could be a work horse with genuine supplies. Thanks again.

Maintenance cycle 100k on the ARM317, you should be seeing them about twice a year at that rate. Definitely within the norm for these little beasties, and as oldrn said, make tray 2 the main tray for the reason of the feed being easier to access. Definitely older than 3 years, however; Sharp is getting ready to drop support for them, meaning if you need a majour piece like a PCU PWB they will not be manufacturing anymore and will only be able to ship what is already in stock until stock runs out.

[oldrn]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

Definitely older than 3 years,

NuWorld keeps finding new old Sharps somewhere. We bought some new AR-M237s less than 3 years ago from them.

[Akitu]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

NuWorld keeps finding new old Sharps somewhere. We bought some new AR-M237s less than 3 years ago from them.

Brand new 0 copy machines? I very much have my doubts about that. Are you sure they're not resetting meters claiming they're brand new? Jump into the elevated sims and check your counters... If your rotation counters are somewhere in the high millions, you got conned into paying premium prices for a used machine.

I could just as easily throw new covers and parts into a machine and reset the counters to 0, but that's akin to resetting the odometer in a car.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

I would suggest changing the default cassette to the bottom cassette rather than the top cassette - assuming it has 2 or more cassettes. The paper feed unit for the top cassette is not as easy to maintain as the lower cassettes.

Also, the toner yield is good on these but don't expect much warning before it runs out of toner. There is a toner gauge but it requires the user to manually access/check it periodically. Make sure the customer keeps a backup cartridge ready.

Great suggestion. I did that too, on my machines. There's a spot in the paper path that you just can't reach well between tray #1 and registration. Customers will call with unreachable scraps of paper from tray #1. Tray #2 doesn't take that path. The rollers are a lot easier to change in tray #2, and jams easier to remove whole.

Overall they have been pretty good to me too. =^..^=

[oldrn]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

Brand new 0 copy machines? I very much have my doubts about that. Are you sure they're not resetting meters claiming they're brand new? Jump into the elevated sims and check your counters... If your rotation counters are somewhere in the high millions, you got conned into paying premium prices for a used machine.

I could just as easily throw new covers and parts into a machine and reset the counters to 0, but that's akin to resetting the odometer in a car.

Being oldrn, I don't always remember things but I do believe they came in an original shipping container. NuWorld will occasionally call with similar offers. I still have a recent flyer on my desk for the AR-M355NB and MX-M350NA/MX-M350UB . As I said, I don't know where they are finding these but maybe they would tell you. Nuworldinc.com Those AR-M237 machines that we sold are in a low volume setting but they have gone those 2 1/2 years without a call.

[Akitu]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

Being oldrn, I don't always remember things but I do believe they came in an original shipping container. NuWorld will occasionally call with similar offers. I still have a recent flyer on my desk for the AR-M355NB and MX-M350NA/MX-M350UB . As I said, I don't know where they are finding these but maybe they would tell you. Nuworldinc.com Those AR-M237 machines that we sold are in a low volume setting but they have gone those 2 1/2 years without a call.

Who knows, maybe they're a partner with various manufacturers and are buying their excess warehouse stock, I suppose nothing is outside of the realm of possibility. The 237s will perform nigh flawlessly in a low volume setting, if you haven't done a maintenance after 2.5 years consider it a great sell.

[BobMontana]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

Yes to what others are sharing.
Few other hopefully useful servicing tips.
Several keys for us in re to the M237,277,257,317 series has been:
1. Keep charge assemblies on hand. They are only about $12 and they seem to be an item that can give line issues. Cleaning them is almost a waste cause cleaning seldom fixes. Therefore when ever the charge is causing black streaks we swap it out.
2. We have found that at 75K if we take out fuser and clean the felt cleaning wand that we almost double our life on the fusers. Doing this, we then change developer, drum, charge ass'y and blade at 150 K. We have been doing this consistently for ~100 machines since we started servicing the M237-277 series. Note: if cleaning felt isn't cleaned or swapped, the fuser lugs down and can strip out gears - also seems to get stuff into the bushings etc.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

...
2. We have found that at 75K if we take out fuser and clean the felt cleaning wand that we almost double our life on the fusers. Doing this, we then change developer, drum, charge ass'y and blade at 150 K. We have been doing this consistently for ~100 machines since we started servicing the M237-277 series. Note: if cleaning felt isn't cleaned or swapped, the fuser lugs down and can strip out gears - also seems to get stuff into the bushings etc.

Don't forget the squealing noises when the gummy toner on the felt glues itself to the heat roller. My practice was to change the felt with the 100K maintenance. If out of stock, at least scrap off the worst of the buildup, then a few drops of fuser oil. The fuser oil seems to help it last the 100K. =^..^=

[lenovos]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

I like them alot

[ZOOTECH]

Re: Considering a Sharp MX-317

We just got a 5 year lease return from the customer who put more than 1 million impressions on the machine.