Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

[straffin]

Greetings!

Let me first say that, after 35 years of working with various computer and related technologies, I *do* realize that I might be in over my head. That being said...

My church has a Konica Minolta bizhub 283 that we purchased a few years ago when our lease was up. Our level of usage just did not warrant the annual cost of a maintenance contract. I am the resident tech guy and have supported this device ever since. I'm fairly good with handling the configuration side of things (networking, sending scans to a computer, etc.) and am passable with the internals. I have a copy of the service manual, have cleaned the drum to remove lines from our printouts, and have recently replaced the drum and developer (what a mess!).

Shortly after replacing the drum and developer, our printouts started looking dirty (example below).

20230628_192504.jpg

The above is all background to my questions:

1) As a fairly technical guy (but not a professional printer tech), armed with the service manual, is this something that I can take care of myself (and, related, in your estimation, what exactly needs to be done) or is this over my head?

2) If this *is* over my head, how can I find someone (in the Durham, NC, area) to perform a service call to clean/repair the device?

The local "big" service providers I've spoken to seem to only be interested in setting up an annual service contract for thousands of dollars. We just don't use this device that much to warrant that level of expense. A reasonable labor charge and parts? Sure! A multi-thousand contract for a device that prints/copies *maybe* 200 sides a *week*? No, thank you. We could buy a new (albeit smaller) device every year for that much.

Anyway, thanks for reading this far and I hope I haven't said anything stupid.

- John Straffin

[straffin]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

I just found out that one of my colleagues at the church *did* have a company (that *he* works with) come out and look at it. He told me that the tech said, after opening it up and looking around, that the device was too old to bother fixing and that we should replace it. I find that hard to believe, hence my post here. Anyway...thanks!

[Synthohol]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

on a 283 is either a bad drum or a dirty fuser belt.

not worth a contract, you can fix yourself.
it is old and cant scan to modern emails or late model SMB but it can sure print copy and fax!

[blackcat4866]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

on a 283 is either a bad drum or a dirty fuser belt.

not worth a contract, you can fix yourself.
it is old and cant scan to modern emails or late model SMB but it can sure print copy and fax!

I'm voting for the fuser unit.

It will be easy enough to determine. Power completely OFF (soft power switch, then hard power switch). Unplug from wall, and let it cool for a 1/2 hr (Many of us have donated our fingerprints to a hot fuser roller over the years). Release the fuser unit with two screws. Examine the fuser rollers or upload some low-res pictures to the thread (maximum attachment size ~1MB) for second opinions.

Lots of people are still keeping these machines running. =^..^=

[femaster]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

Greetings!

Let me first say that, after 35 years of working with various computer and related technologies, I *do* realize that I might be in over my head. That being said...

Shortly after replacing the drum and developer, our printouts started looking dirty (example below).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58847[/ATTACH]

Anyway, thanks for reading this far and I hope I haven't said anything stupid.

- John Straffin

I'm voting for the fuser unit.

It will be easy enough to determine. Power completely OFF (soft power switch, then hard power switch). Unplug from wall, and let it cool for a 1/2 hr (Many of us have donated our fingerprints to a hot fuser roller over the years). Release the fuser unit with two screws. Examine the fuser rollers or upload some low-res pictures to the thread (maximum attachment size ~1MB) for second opinions.

Lots of people are still keeping these machines running. =^..^=

I'll second the fuser. Your example looks like the toner is starting to stick to the upper roller and getting redopsited back on the page where it shouldn't be.

In addition to those 2 screws that hold in the fuser, there are 2 wire harness connections. One will be hidden behind a small black cover just to the right of the fuser unit (when looking at machine from right side access door,) provided a previous service person wasn't overly lazy and didn't bother to reinstall the cover. The second harness is the main power wires for the heat lamps and is located behind the white plastic trim cover just below the control panel on the front of the copier.

[copyman]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

Agree with the others. Replace the fuser and keep the old dog going for your church. Easy enough for end user to replace. Follow the instructions in service manual you said you had.

[Hansoon]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

Judging from the bad sample, I would rather believe that here the Image Unit is spewing toner and the problem lays much less – if at all – in the fuser.

This makes me suspicious too:

have cleaned the drum to remove lines from our printouts, and have recently replaced the drum and developer (what a mess!).

Hans

[copyman]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

Judging from the bad sample, I would rather believe that here the Image Unit is spewing toner and the problem lays much less – if at all – in the fuser.

This makes me suspicious too:



Hans

Hey Hans,

I thought the same thing at first but looking again the toner specks seem to be from poor fusing as the letters at top show and specks are. But the real sign it's most likely bad fuser is the line under the word "Sunday", that is the classic 223 series fuser line, both defects caused by worn Teflon UFR.

[allan]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

If that paper is thicker than bond then you need to set the paper thickness correctly to slow the machine down enough to fuse properly. The first 10 or so pages after part replacement can come out dirty due to toner that got dislodged form the rest of the machine.

[tsbservice]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

It's fuser. Easy to check enough.

[Gift]

[copyman]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

You can go into serv mode and increase temp +10 and may help fusing at top of page but still think it's worn fuser roller because poor fusing at top only. Still going to have that line under the word "Sunday" and nothing will fix that except new fuser. The teflon is cut on roller causing line. Most of the time Teflon wear is from the thermistor or can have thinner lines from the picker fingers cutting into roller. Seen it at least 100 times.

[Gift]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

Good eyes @copyman, now I see it, too

Yeah that one won't disappear without replacing stuff.

[straffin]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

This is all great info! Thank you very, VERY much! I'll check the fuser and let y'all know what I find.

- John

[Phil B.]

Re: Dirty printouts...can a technical non-pro fix? Or, how to find a tech?

I just found out that one of my colleagues at the church *did* have a company (that *he* works with) come out and look at it. He told me that the tech said, after opening it up and looking around, that the device was too old to bother fixing and that we should replace it. I find that hard to believe, hence my post here. Anyway...thanks!

[/COLOR][/COLOR]