HP Printer

[chad]

I have an HP printer that keeps smearing a little bit of ink on the
left hand side of the page. I've cleaned the roller area, and replaced
the toner, but it's still there. Any ideas?

 

[Tony]

I have an HP printer that keeps smearing a little bit of ink on the
left hand side of the page. I've cleaned the roller area, and replaced
the toner, but it's still there. Any ideas?

Which model is the printer?
Does the mark repeat down the page? If so, what is the exact distance between
the start of the first mark on the page and the start of the second mark on the
page?
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[chad]

Two pinters are foing this. They are both HP LAserJet 1012's. One
prints three perfectly spaced dots horizontally on the top of the page.
The other prints three perfectly spaced dots vertically on the right
hand side.

One printer is kicking out three

 

[Tony]

What happens when you swap the cartridges between the two printers?
Do the problems move with the cartridges or do they stay with the printers?
Tony

 

[chad]

Looks as if they stay with the printer.

What happens when you swap the cartridges between the two printers?
Do the problems move with the cartridges or do they stay with the printers?
Tony

 

[Tony]

Exactly how far apart are the dots on the one that is spaced vertically down
the page?
Tony

 

[chad]

Probably about two inches apart.

Exactly how far apart are the dots on the one that is spaced vertically down
the page?
Tony

 

[Tony]

There are 3 rollers in the printer that have circumferences of "about" 2 inches.
Transfer roller - 1.82 inches (46.3mm). This roller is in the printer
underneath the toner cartridge. It is very unusual for the transfer roller to
put dark marks on the paper that do not disappear after a few pages.
Paper pick up assembly - 2.17 inches (55.2mm). This is in the printer body but
is extremely unlikely to put a mark on the paper that does not disappear after
a few pages.
Fuser roller - 2.22 inches (56.5mm) this is also in the printer and is the most
likely cause.
To be sure you need to measure the distance exactly, "about" won't be close
enough.
If it is the fuser, and I suspect it is, the cost of a replacement is going to
be prohibitive. If you are very good at mechanical dissasembly or know someone
who is you could remove the fuser and see if there is a small spot of toner on
the roller. You can try to clean it off with a cloth dampened with isopropyl
alcohol but the roller is easy to damage.
Tony

 

[jasee]

Tony wrote:
..

If it is the fuser, and I suspect it is, the cost of a replacement is
going to be prohibitive. If you are very good at mechanical
dissasembly or know someone who is you could remove the fuser and see
if there is a small spot of toner on the roller. You can try to clean
it off with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol but the roller is
easy to damage.

If it is the fuser (which I doubt) it's actually pretty easy to see the
fuser on the 1012 after the case is removed and it's not actually a very
difficult job to replace the fuser tube. But probably not worth it if you
take it to a shop.

 

[Tony]

Tony wrote:
.

If it is the fuser (which I doubt) it's actually pretty easy to see the
fuser on the 1012 after the case is removed and it's not actually a very
difficult job to replace the fuser tube. But probably not worth it if you
take it to a shop.

If the problem stayed with the printer when a different toner cartridge was
installed there is a very high probability that it is the fuser unless the
marks slowly fade with printing.
Removing the covers is easy for those of us who do it often but a little
daunting for people who are not so comfortable with taking printers apart.
Having it fixed in a shop is almost certainly not cost effective, about that we
agree.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[chad]

If the problem stayed with the printer when a different toner cartridge was
installed there is a very high probability that it is the fuser unless the
marks slowly fade with printing.
Removing the covers is easy for those of us who do it often but a little
daunting for people who are not so comfortable with taking printers apart.
Having it fixed in a shop is almost certainly not cost effective, about that we
agree.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

Now the user tells me that the ink spots go away after a few prints,
but then come back.

 

[Tony]

Now the user tells me that the ink spots go away after a few prints,
but then come back.

OK then you will have to measure the distance between the spots absolutely
accurately or we are in danger of becoming confused.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[chad]

OK then you will have to measure the distance between the spots absolutely
accurately or we are in danger of becoming confused.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'll do that on Monday. Sorry, you know how users can be.

 

[chad]

I'll do that on Monday. Sorry, you know how users can be.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ok. The spots are two inches apart, but they vary. What I mean is that
on one printing they are in a certain part of the page. On the next
part they are on another part of the page. There are also other spots
there.

 

[Tony]

Ok. The spots are two inches apart, but they vary. What I mean is that
on one printing they are in a certain part of the page. On the next
part they are on another part of the page. There are also other spots
there.

If they vary vertically, in other words the first spot on the page may be in a
different vertical position than on another page then that is perfectly normal.
If however the horizontal position varies then that is a different matter. If
the vertical distance from one spot to the next identical spot is 2.2 inches
then this is a fuser problem.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[chad]

If they vary vertically, in other words the first spot on the page may be in a
different vertical position than on another page then that is perfectly normal.
If however the horizontal position varies then that is a different matter. If
the vertical distance from one spot to the next identical spot is 2.2 inches
then this is a fuser problem.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It turned out that it was the stupid. As soon as I ordered a new one,
and installed it, the spots disappeared.

 

[Tony]

It turned out that it was the stupid. As soon as I ordered a new one,
and installed it, the spots disappeared.

Excellent, problem solved.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Arthur Entlich]

OK, guys, there is a word missing... it was the stupid WHAT? ;-)

Art

 

[Tony]

Art
I don't know for sure but I assumed it was the "fuser", however it might have
been a stupid "bottom poster" or a stupid "top poster" or a stupid "cupid".
As you know only too well, it was just great to see a problem solved....
Oh...... I wonder if it was a stupid local incomprehensible troll that got
replaced....breath bated in anticipation.
Best regards
Tony (top posting on this occasion).

 

[chad]

Art
I don't know for sure but I assumed it was the "fuser", however it might have
been a stupid "bottom poster" or a stupid "top poster" or a stupid "cupid".
As you know only too well, it was just great to see a problem solved....
Oh...... I wonder if it was a stupid local incomprehensible troll that got
replaced....breath bated in anticipation.
Best regards
Tony (top posting on this occasion).





- Show quoted text -

Sorry, guys, I didn't notice that I omitted the word. It was the
stupid......................(drum roll please).........toner
cartridge!!!!!!!!
Once that was replaced...poof!...no more spots. Just a simple
cartridge. Life is so sweet sometimes.