HP fusers repairing/refurbishing?

[Peter B]

Hello People

I'm soon to be the owner of two used HP LaserJet 4 printers. The print
quality if pretty faint even if a new toner cartridge has been installed. I
have been told that the reason they are getting rid of them is because the
maintenance kits are too expensive and as a result they are buying new
printers.

I've been doing a bit of research on the net and found the kits comprise of
a couple of rollers and a new fuser unit. What I want to know is if it is
possible to repair the old fusers myself. Obviously they will never be as
good as a new one, but I have read on some sites that it is just a matter of
cleaning off the baked on toner. Is this correct?

Can it be done, your opinions please?

Peter

 

[Bob Eager]

I've been doing a bit of research on the net and found the kits comprise of
a couple of rollers and a new fuser unit. What I want to know is if it is
possible to repair the old fusers myself. Obviously they will never be as
good as a new one, but I have read on some sites that it is just a matter of
cleaning off the baked on toner. Is this correct?

The rollers are of course something you have to get; last set of rollers
cost me a tenner on eBay. The set before that cost me 40 quid including
a brand new fuser! The rollers have a rated life of 200,000 pages.

The most common fuser problem would appear to be the failure of the
halogen lamp. This is available (mine cost me about 15 quid) but is a
bit of a bugger to fit. Still, with patuience I did it even without a
manual. The printer concerned had been moved from one floor to another
in the buiding and obviously trated roughly. It had a genuine 28000
pages on the clock and I got it for free, so the fuser repair was very
cost effective. I've never had to clean a fuser yet.

 

[Peter B]

The rollers are of course something you have to get; last set of rollers
cost me a tenner on eBay. The set before that cost me 40 quid including
a brand new fuser! The rollers have a rated life of 200,000 pages.

The most common fuser problem would appear to be the failure of the
halogen lamp. This is available (mine cost me about 15 quid) but is a
bit of a bugger to fit. Still, with patuience I did it even without a
manual. The printer concerned had been moved from one floor to another
in the buiding and obviously trated roughly. It had a genuine 28000
pages on the clock and I got it for free, so the fuser repair was very
cost effective. I've never had to clean a fuser yet.

Ok thank you so much Bob, that is brilliant news! So you think the rollers
are a must have? Do you know what model the halogen lamp is and where I
could get it from? Also how do you find out how many pages the printer has
clocked up? And lastly I don't suppose you know of any sites that have
pictures/diagrams or just instructions as this will be my first attempt of
repairing a fuser unit.

Cheers again Bob!

 

[Bob Eager]

Ok thank you so much Bob, that is brilliant news! So you think the rollers
are a must have? Do you know what model the halogen lamp is and where I
could get it from? Also how do you find out how many pages the printer has
clocked up? And lastly I don't suppose you know of any sites that have
pictures/diagrams or just instructions as this will be my first attempt of
repairing a fuser unit.

I wish you'd display a valid email address; you can always munge it or
put it in the Reply-To: field.

Email me at (e-mail address removed)

 

[Peter B]

I wish you'd display a valid email address; you can always munge it or
put it in the Reply-To: field.

Email me at (e-mail address removed)

Sorry mate, I've sent you an e-mail from my real address to your address
above and I have entered it into the reply to field.

 

[Cullinane]

Hello People

I'm soon to be the owner of two used HP LaserJet 4 printers. The print
quality if pretty faint even if a new toner cartridge has been installed. I
have been told that the reason they are getting rid of them is because the
maintenance kits are too expensive and as a result they are buying new
printers.

I've been doing a bit of research on the net and found the kits comprise of
a couple of rollers and a new fuser unit. What I want to know is if it is
possible to repair the old fusers myself. Obviously they will never be as
good as a new one, but I have read on some sites that it is just a matter of
cleaning off the baked on toner. Is this correct?

Can it be done, your opinions please?

Peter

Print quality is 'pretty faint'? Do you mean light print?
I doubt the fuser would have much to do with light print.
Since you're using a new cartridge, I'd remove and clean the transfer
roller, and then if that doesn't work, remove the laser scanner and
clean the inside glass with a q-tip with some window cleaner on it.
I can't remember if the 4 has an econo-mode or not..if so, make sure
it's not turned on. Also, you can increase the darkness setting.

I'm betting it's a dirty laser scanner.

 

[Faolan]

I've been doing a bit of research on the net and found the kits comprise of
a couple of rollers and a new fuser unit. What I want to know is if it is
possible to repair the old fusers myself. Obviously they will never be as
good as a new one, but I have read on some sites that it is just a matter of
cleaning off the baked on toner. Is this correct?

Can it be done, your opinions please?

I work with these printers fairly regular, the rollers (depending on how
badly warped they are) can be cleaned with a rubber restorer
(Platenclene or similar).

As to the fuser, check Teflon coating isn't scratched if it is you will
require a new one. However failure of these is very rare (unless someone
dropped a paper clip/staple in!).

Maintenance is remove the fuser at the back (2 screws) then use a sealed
vacuum unit to pull out all the old toner from inside the from and back
of the printer and dispose of safely (Toner dust is dangerous). Clean
the rollers, and the laser unit (usually 4 screws from the top of my
head two at the back and two at the front), remove the top, making sure
you disconnect the ribbon first. Then you have access to the laser
casing, again undo 4 screws with a cleaning bud with some alcohol (or
similar) clean the lens unit carefully.

Fusers are expensive to replace, the quick way to determine if it's a
halogen bulb is to put a voltmeter on each end with a continuity test to
see if it's passing voltage. Not hard to replace one of these yet, but
apparently it can be a dog until you get used to it.

HP 4s are some of the best printers around for maintenance and
reliability. As to baked toner that's because user tried to continue
printing with a paper jam only have cleared it baked the paper and
melted the toner to the fuser.

 

[Bob Eager]

I work with these printers fairly regular, the rollers (depending on how
badly warped they are) can be cleaned with a rubber restorer
(Platenclene or similar).

I've been in contact with the OP offline. It's almost certainly the
transfer roller, so he's goping to have a go at cleaning and/or
replacing that.

 

[Dave]

I've been in contact with the OP offline. It's almost certainly the
transfer roller, so he's goping to have a go at cleaning and/or
replacing that.

How do you clean trhe transfer roller? I tried it once and it just got
worse so I replaced it.

It would be handy for future reference

Dave

 

[Bob Eager]

How do you clean trhe transfer roller? I tried it once and it just got
worse so I replaced it.

It would be handy for future reference

I'm not sure you can! It just seems worth a go since it's buggered
anyway. I would guess it only works for loose dirt.

 

[Peter B]

I'm not sure you can! It just seems worth a go since it's buggered
anyway. I would guess it only works for loose dirt.

They sure are buggered! As soon as the HPLJ's are in my custody I'll have a
go a cleaning the roller, if it doesn't work then it doesn't matter because
the rollers are as cheap as chips.

I put this bit on below for you Bob :O)

Peter

 

[Dave]

I'm not sure you can! It just seems worth a go since it's buggered
anyway. I would guess it only works for loose dirt.

Oh, I see. I thought maybe it was some technique I'd not seen before

Dave

 

[Fred Farkle]

Print quality is 'pretty faint'? Do you mean light print?
I doubt the fuser would have much to do with light print.
Since you're using a new cartridge, I'd remove and clean the transfer
roller, and then if that doesn't work, remove the laser scanner and
clean the inside glass with a q-tip with some window cleaner on it.
I can't remember if the 4 has an econo-mode or not..if so, make sure
it's not turned on. Also, you can increase the darkness setting.

I'm betting it's a dirty laser scanner.

My bet is on the transfer roller

Paul

 

[Fred Farkle]

How do you clean trhe transfer roller? I tried it once and it just got
worse so I replaced it.

It would be handy for future reference

Dave

What I've done in the past when I really had no other choice was to
wash the transfer roller with cold water and squeeze out the toner on
it. Then squeeze out all the water, and thoroughly dry it with a hair
dryer. The key word there is 'thoroughly' make sure it IS DRY,
then put it back in, and test.

Paul

 

[Dave]

What I've done in the past when I really had no other choice was to
wash the transfer roller with cold water and squeeze out the toner on
it. Then squeeze out all the water, and thoroughly dry it with a hair
dryer. The key word there is 'thoroughly' make sure it IS DRY,
then put it back in, and test.

Thanks. A good idea to put into the ideas box for future reference.

Dave

 

[Gordon]

Hello People

I'm soon to be the owner of two used HP LaserJet 4 printers. The print
quality if pretty faint even if a new toner cartridge has been installed. I
have been told that the reason they are getting rid of them is because the
maintenance kits are too expensive and as a result they are buying new
printers.

I've been doing a bit of research on the net and found the kits comprise of
a couple of rollers and a new fuser unit. What I want to know is if it is
possible to repair the old fusers myself. Obviously they will never be as
good as a new one, but I have read on some sites that it is just a matter of
cleaning off the baked on toner. Is this correct?

Can it be done, your opinions please?

Yes, I can get exchanged fusers for the HP4 for about $50 USD. I've
cleaned the fuser before it takes about 30-45 minutes using alochol
and cotton swabs. You can order the rebuilding parts from
www.printerworks.com but it's a USA company. They do have the parts
section of the service manual on line.

Gordon