"Free Copier" causing aggravation

[InVinoVeritas]

I work for a few companies on a part-time basis, and am self-employed on top of that. One of my part-time employers is what most would call a small to medium-sized business. When working there I used a Ricoh Aficio MP 3351 copier, which had no problems. It was used by three of us, and none of the users were really heavy users. (The "counter" shows 323857, if that gives you an idea of how much life the machine has left.) The company decided to replace the copier so that they could get all four of their copiers on the same maintenance contract. After an unsuccessful attempt at selling it on an auction site, they were going to throw it away. I asked, and they gave it to me.

I paid a couple of guys in the maintenance department to move it to my other office. In so doing they removed the finisher. (The finisher's model no. is SR3050.) I have done my best to put it back together, but it throws a code and basically will not work. After a couple of hours of trying a few things that google suggested, I have resigned myself to finding someone smarter than me to work on it. The Ricoh technician that I knew from the company recently quit. The new technician says that he is forbidden from working on it on his own, but suggested I call his employer to set something up. Well, I called them and they require that I sign a year long contract in order to get someone to come service the machine.

I am in a semi-remote area. The nearest city of any size is over an hour away.

Any ideas on how to find a technician that services my town?

Should I just forget this whole stupid idea and junk the copier?

Thanks,

[blackcat4866]

You left out the most important part: what is the code?

Was the machine powered down and off, before disconnecting the finisher?
=^..^=

[InVinoVeritas]

The machine had been unplugged for a few weeks before the finisher was removed.

The message says:

Service Call

Following unit is out of order.
Press [Cancel] to cancel functions.
Please call service.

Finisher
SC798-01

[orestesp]

The machine had been unplugged for a few weeks before the finisher was removed.

The message says:

Service Call

Following unit is out of order.
Press [Cancel] to cancel functions.
Please call service.

Finisher
SC798-01

From a quick search, I think this corresponds to the SC code that you are faced with.error.jpg

[blackcat4866]

From a quick search, I think this corresponds to the SC code that you are faced with.error.jpg

This is a relatively common situation. Somebody picks up the finisher by the trays, and it ratchets to the top of its travel. Often it's as simple as removing a cover and manually driving the tray down a little from the upper limit switch, then powering on.

Start with that.

[sandmanmac]

Easiest solution:
Disconnect the finisher. Push it aside and run it without.
Machine may still flash an SC 7xx code in the bottom of the screen as long as the bridge unit is attached because it is "looking" for the finisher, but machine will otherwise work normally. You can also remove the bridge unit fairly easily and get rid of that error as well if you like