Cleaning drum on laser printer - possible?

[Barry]

Hello and thanks for reading this...

I have a Samsung ML4500 and it prints 'dots' on every page it prints
down the left hand edge of the page at regular distances which I take to
be the radius of the drum.

The drum I believe is part of the cartridge and the manufacturers have
advised me to buy another but at 43 GBP I hesitate to do so as this
cartridge, which came with the printer, has printed very few sheets from
new and there doesn't seem to be any guarantee a new one is going to do
better.

So ... is it possible to clean a drum? I think I see it as a greenish
tube in the bottom of the cartridge, so it might be do-able? If so how
and with what is my question to you ...

Thanks again ... Barry

 

[Tim Puffett]

So ... is it possible to clean a drum? I think I see it as a greenish
tube in the bottom of the cartridge, so it might be do-able?

That's what you are looking for. Take a look at it, you should be able
to turn it using an exposed gear. Look for a mark that would coincide
with the mark on the paper. Problem is that the mark is most likely to
be a scratch or indentation that has physically removed the coating of
the drum and if it's this then it's damaged beyond repair.
'fraid you're looking at a new drum/cart

 

[Barry]

That's what you are looking for. Take a look at it, you should be able
to turn it using an exposed gear. Look for a mark that would coincide
with the mark on the paper. Problem is that the mark is most likely to
be a scratch or indentation that has physically removed the coating of
the drum and if it's this then it's damaged beyond repair.
'fraid you're looking at a new drum/cart

Thanks for that Tim, much as I thought and feared. I took a look at the
drum and saw the black spot on it, tried to wipe it off but it made no
difference so I guess it's a new cartridge or a new printer. I just
can't believe this after so few (<200) sheets of printing :-(

Many thanks again ... Barry

 

[Barry]

So ... is it possible to clean a drum? I think I see it as a greenish
tube in the bottom of the cartridge, so it might be do-able? If so how
and with what is my question to you ...

Success After thinking 'what have I got to lose' I went and cleaned
the spot off with a moist tissue, pretty firmly as well, and guess what
the spots are gone. Guess it must have been something stuck to the drum.
I am well pleased with that

Thanks again Tim .... Barry

 

[Tim Puffett]

Success After thinking 'what have I got to lose' I went and cleaned
the spot off with a moist tissue, pretty firmly as well, and guess what
the spots are gone. Guess it must have been something stuck to the drum.
I am well pleased with that

Thanks again Tim .... Barry

You were lucky - most of the marks I have come across have been dings in
the surface and no amount of cleaning is gonna replace the PC coating.

Glad you're sorted.

 

[Roger Barton]

# Cleaning drum on laser printer - possible?

Cautionary tale:

Do NOT clean a drum of amorphous silicon with alcohol, as I did. Though it cleans nicely, it crystallises the surface. I guess pure water is the best household product.

If it's not a problem of something sticking to the drum, you should look at the scraper blade which may be broken. Otherwise clean all the optical surfaces (some are well-hidden). They are great grime-catchers.

Best to all,

Roger