HP LaserJet 5 - printouts have vertical mark down the left margin - please help

[Adam]

My HP LaserJet 5 is problematic in that printouts would have
a vertical mark (or fuzzy line) going down the left margin.
I changed the toner cartridge but the problem still occurs.

What is the proper term for this type of problem?
And, any idea what's causing the problem (other than toner)?

Thank you for your attention.

 

[Tony]

My HP LaserJet 5 is problematic in that printouts would have
a vertical mark (or fuzzy line) going down the left margin.
I changed the toner cartridge but the problem still occurs.

What is the proper term for this type of problem?
And, any idea what's causing the problem (other than toner)?

Thank you for your attention.

Most likely a fuser problem. Is there a mark that repeats down the page? If so
how far apart is the repeat (measure exactly from the beginning of one mark and
the beginning of the next identical mark).
If you open the back door of the printer, you will see a flap that runs across
that you can hinge back, behind that flap are two rollers (careful, they may be
very hot). Is there a corresponding mark on one of the rollers?
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[DaveG]

My HP LaserJet 5 is problematic in that printouts would have
a vertical mark (or fuzzy line) going down the left margin.
I changed the toner cartridge but the problem still occurs.

What is the proper term for this type of problem?
And, any idea what's causing the problem (other than toner)?

Thank you for your attention.

Could be a damaged roller in the fuser. The separator teeth sometimes
gouge out the rubber roller after particularly bad jams.

Could be toner or other contamination on the transfer roller.

Could be dirt in the lens or mirror in the laser assembly causing
"scatter" of the laser beam. Not likely if it happens on a blank page
though.

It might even just be a dirty feed roller.

Open the cover while the page is moving through the printer and see when
in the paper path the mark is laid down on the paper. You might have to
try this a couple of times to check different parts of the paper path.
Use the MP tray so you can see how far the paper has gone. You;ll have
the guess in the case of the further reaches of the printer.

 

[Adam]

Most likely a fuser problem. Is there a mark that repeats down the page? If so
how far apart is the repeat (measure exactly from the beginning of one mark and
the beginning of the next identical mark).
If you open the back door of the printer, you will see a flap that runs across
that you can hinge back, behind that flap are two rollers (careful, they may be
very hot). Is there a corresponding mark on one of the rollers?
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

Of the laser printer problems listed here ...
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tytwj
The part that says ...
"Sharp black lines run vertically through each page..."
might be the closest description. However,
in my case, there's only one line and it's not sharp.

The fuzzy vertical line is about 1/8" to 1/4" in from the left margin that
runs straight down and is not a repetitive mark that
repeats every 1 to x number of inches. The printout looks as though
it came from copying a document with one page stacked
on top of another but the two pages are staggered by 1/8" to 1/4".

 

[Adam]

Could be a damaged roller in the fuser. The separator teeth sometimes
gouge out the rubber roller after particularly bad jams.

Could be toner or other contamination on the transfer roller.

Could be dirt in the lens or mirror in the laser assembly causing
"scatter" of the laser beam. Not likely if it happens on a blank page
though.

It might even just be a dirty feed roller.

Open the cover while the page is moving through the printer and see when
in the paper path the mark is laid down on the paper. You might have to
try this a couple of times to check different parts of the paper path.
Use the MP tray so you can see how far the paper has gone. You;ll have
the guess in the case of the further reaches of the printer.

--
DaveG

"Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt
up after being drunk all night." Isaac Asimov

I tried opening the cover to find the problem but
doing so stops the printer from printing.

The printer might just need to be cleaned.
Is there a better way to clean than with the following ...

Kensington Paper Guardian Paper Path Cleaning Sheets
Manufacturer Part# 10313

 

[DaveG]

I tried opening the cover to find the problem but doing so stops the
printer from printing.

Well, yeah, that happens.

The "trick" is to open the printer while the page is part way through, eg
under the OPC drum so you can check if the mark is evident there or maybe
happens later in the path.

You can also check the OPS drum itself, the image will still be on the
drum, to check if the mark is there, ie is the drum putting the mark on
ther page, the transfer roller under the drum, ie it's on the paper but
not on the drum.

Likewise, open it while the paper is passing through the fuser to see if
that's where the mark is being added to the page.

The printer might just need to be cleaned. Is there a better way to
clean than with the following ...

Kensington Paper Guardian Paper Path Cleaning Sheets Manufacturer Part#
10313

cleaning pages only clean small particles of dust from the paper path. If
you problem is dirt related then it's either grease somewhere or dust in a
lpace a cleaning page isn't going to reach.

I'm not sure if the HPLJ5 has a function to create cleaning pages, but
some do. If not, print a broad diagonal line (like 3" or so wide) across
a page and print it. Feed it back in the "wrong" way up and print a
"blank" page. The toner will remain slightly "sticky" long enough to pick
up any odd specks of dust. You could try it again with the page the
"right" way up too just to be thorough, possibly by printing a new
"cleaning" page first.

 

[Adam]

Well, yeah, that happens.

The "trick" is to open the printer while the page is part way through, eg
under the OPC drum so you can check if the mark is evident there or maybe
happens later in the path.

You can also check the OPS drum itself, the image will still be on the
drum, to check if the mark is there, ie is the drum putting the mark on
ther page, the transfer roller under the drum, ie it's on the paper but
not on the drum.

Likewise, open it while the paper is passing through the fuser to see if
that's where the mark is being added to the page.


cleaning pages only clean small particles of dust from the paper path. If
you problem is dirt related then it's either grease somewhere or dust in a
lpace a cleaning page isn't going to reach.

I'm not sure if the HPLJ5 has a function to create cleaning pages, but
some do. If not, print a broad diagonal line (like 3" or so wide) across
a page and print it. Feed it back in the "wrong" way up and print a
"blank" page. The toner will remain slightly "sticky" long enough to pick
up any odd specks of dust. You could try it again with the page the
"right" way up too just to be thorough, possibly by printing a new
"cleaning" page first.

--
DaveG

"Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt
up after being drunk all night." Isaac Asimov

Where's a good place to buy a quality fuser (or maintenance kit)?
OEM is probably best, right?

 

[Ben Myers]

The PrinterWorks is well-regarded, but somewhat pricey, given the age and
current value of the printer.

You can inquire, but I doubt that HP stocks spares for the LaserJet 5, a sturdy
beast, but over 10 years old. (I know. I use one myself.)

I sell LaserJet 5M (with PostScript) refurbs in good working order for $75. This
should allow you to determine how much you want to spend to fix your printer...
Ben Myers

 

[Adam]

How about the following Fusing Assembly Kit ...
http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/kits/hp/K22

 

[Tony]

I have not used their products but have only ever seen positive feedback. They
provide full instructions.
This printer is worth a bit of tender loving care.
Tony

 

[Adam]

Yes, I bought this printer (used) back in
August 2002. No problems really. All I need to do is
change the toner cartridge from time to time.
It might be worth it to get a maintenance kit and
replace some of the rollers/parts. But then,
do I want to fix what ain't broke?

 

[Ben Myers]

The only problem with the maintenance kits is not with the kits themselves.
Replacement of rollers is a pretty time-consuming and tedious operation.

But I'm with you. I have a networked LaserJet 5M with maximum 50MB of memory
happily chugging away here, pumping lots of paper and printing occasionally on
28 lb card stock. They don't make'em like this any more, unless you spring for
the big bucks and maybe a LaserJet 4300 series.

Moe at fixyourownprinter is first rate... Ben Myers

 

[Ben Myers]

PS: Replacement of an LJ4/LJ4+/LJ5 fuser assembly is very simple, especially
when compared with the rollers... Ben Myers

 

[Adam]

Which rollers are you referring to?
So far, they don't seem that bad to me.
But then, I put together my own PC from scratch,
which was a fun learning experience for me.

 

[Tony]

If the only problem you have is the mark down the edge and if that is caused by
the fuser I would only change the fuser. The other rollers are not hard to
change however. If you are having paper pick up problems then changing the pick
up rollers is indicated, in my experience the transfer charge roller rarely
fails but is not hard to change either. The service manual is free and
available from
http://www.eserviceinfo.com/downloadsm/20206/Hp_Laserjet 5 M.html
download the two parts and uncompress them. See what is involved.
Tony

 

[Ben Myers]

Maybe I don't have them completely figured out yet, but I've always found
changing out the rollers that pull the paper to be tricky. The symptoms of
rollers failing are usually two, either paper does not feed through completely
or the paper is accordion-like when it exits... Ben Myers

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

top-posting and quoting entire highway-length articles is bad.

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

top-posting and quoting entire highway-length articles is bad

 

[DaveG]

top-posting and quoting entire highway-length articles is bad

And...?

 

[Adam]

Thanks for the link.

That website seems to be really popular cuz
I haven't been able to get to it yet. I'll try again later ...

If the only problem you have is the mark down the edge and if that is caused by
the fuser I would only change the fuser. The other rollers are not hard to
change however. If you are having paper pick up problems then changing the pick
up rollers is indicated, in my experience the transfer charge roller rarely
fails but is not hard to change either. The service manual is free and
available from
http://www.eserviceinfo.com/downloadsm/20206/Hp_Laserjet 5 M.html
download the two parts and uncompress them. See what is involved.
Tony

Which rollers are you referring to?
So far, they don't seem that bad to me.
But then, I put together my own PC from scratch,
which was a fun learning experience for me.

The only problem with the maintenance kits is not with the kits themselves.
Replacement of rollers is a pretty time-consuming and tedious operation.

But I'm with you. I have a networked LaserJet 5M with maximum 50MB of memory
happily chugging away here, pumping lots of paper and printing occasionally
on
28 lb card stock. They don't make'em like this any more, unless you

spring
for

the big bucks and maybe a LaserJet 4300 series.

Moe at fixyourownprinter is first rate... Ben Myers



Yes, I bought this printer (used) back in
August 2002. No problems really. All I need to do is
change the toner cartridge from time to time.
It might be worth it to get a maintenance kit and
replace some of the rollers/parts. But then,
do I want to fix what ain't broke?


I have not used their products but have only ever seen positive

feedback.
They

provide full instructions.
This printer is worth a bit of tender loving care.
Tony

How about the following Fusing Assembly Kit ...
http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/kits/hp/K22


The PrinterWorks is well-regarded, but somewhat pricey, given the age and
current value of the printer.

You can inquire, but I doubt that HP stocks spares for the LaserJet 5,
a
sturdy
beast, but over 10 years old. (I know. I use one myself.)

I sell LaserJet 5M (with PostScript) refurbs in good working order

for
$75.

This
should allow you to determine how much you want to spend to fix your
printer...
Ben Myers