LJ 5si - Page count, grey bars and thick ink.

[Philadelphia Frank]

I bought a Laserjet 5si for $100. It has less than 2000 page count.How
could I go wrong? Well now I've got a 100lb monster in my kitchen and
I don't know if I could get the trashman to take it.

I've got a few questions.

1. What does that page count mean? Can it be tricked, like rolling
back an odometer?

2. I've got grey horizontal bars across the paper in pretty much the
same spot every print. I assume that means the toner is bad?

3. In the middle of the page, the ink seems thicker, as though it
didn't "melt" into the paper. If I use the duplexer, on the back side
that doesn't have print, there is ink where it is thick on the other
side. What's up with that?

I don't want to spend the money for a new toner if that isn't going to
help the thick ink problem.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Frank

 

[Tim S]

I bought a Laserjet 5si for $100. It has less than 2000 page count.How
could I go wrong? Well now I've got a 100lb monster in my kitchen and
I don't know if I could get the trashman to take it.

The 5Si was a pretty reasonable mid range laser IME. Doubt your dustmen
would take it if they are anything like ours in England! Unless they
thought it might work, of course, then they'd have it ;->

You presumably have a municipal dump who take anything?... but see below.

I've got a few questions.

1. What does that page count mean? Can it be tricked, like rolling
back an odometer?

Not sure - not heard of it being done, doesn't mean it's impossible
though... 2000 pagecount on that machine is nothing, if it's a genuine
count and the printer hasn't been totally abused. Bear in mind that the 5Si
was first sold years ago, and whilst it's possible that one has been in an
office where no-one printed anything much, it seems less than likely.

2. I've got grey horizontal bars across the paper in pretty much the
same spot every print. I assume that means the toner is bad?

3. In the middle of the page, the ink seems thicker, as though it
didn't "melt" into the paper. If I use the duplexer, on the back side
that doesn't have print, there is ink where it is thick on the other
side. What's up with that?

I'm no laser expert, but I would suspect the transfer roller and maybe the
fuser bar. Transfer roller replacement is a standard maintenance operation
on many printers, but not usually at 2000 pages.

I don't want to spend the money for a new toner if that isn't going to
help the thick ink problem.

That's a point - does the toner on that printer include the roller - it's
been a while and I can't remember the details... If so, could be worth a
shot trying a new cartridge. Could the toner have got damp in storage, so
it's spread is erratic? Again, new cartridge might fix everything...

The other thing that might be worth doing is open it up and have a good
shufty around inside. Look for worn rubber wheels, toner dust, paper dust
and any other signs that it's old and well used. Look in the places where
it's hard to get, because it's unlikely a dodgey reconditioner would have
given it more than a cursory clean. If it seems clean and the parts don't
look worn, that reinforces the argument to try a new toner. Know anywhere
you could borrow a cartridge from to print a test page?

HTH

Tim

 

[DaveG]

I bought a Laserjet 5si for $100. It has less than 2000 page count.How
could I go wrong? Well now I've got a 100lb monster in my kitchen and
I don't know if I could get the trashman to take it.

In addition to what Tim said...

I've got a few questions.

1. What does that page count mean? Can it be tricked, like rolling
back an odometer?

If the engine controller board has been replaced, yes, the counter might
only indicate pages sine the board was replaced.

2. I've got grey horizontal bars across the paper in pretty much the
same spot every print. I assume that means the toner is bad?

I assume you mean more than one bar across the page. Measure the distance
from the top of one to the top of the next, in millimetres and post that
figure here. That will tell us which roller is causing the problem and
help point in the direction of what to replace and how much it will cost.

3. In the middle of the page, the ink seems thicker, as though it didn't
"melt" into the paper. If I use the duplexer, on the back side that
doesn't have print, there is ink where it is thick on the other side.
What's up with that?

What if you print two pages one after the other? ie print a two page
document?

I don't want to spend the money for a new toner if that isn't going to
help the thick ink problem.

As Tim suggested, the toner cart may be bad, especially if it's been in
storage and got damp. Take the toner cart out and give a good shake
around to make sure the toner dust (note, not ink) is evenly distrubuted
inside the cartridge.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Note to Tim. Yes, the toner cart is an all in one unit. Only the
transfer roller is seperate.

 

[ato_zee]

Know anywhere
you could borrow a cartridge from to print a test page?

Try eBay I picked up a couple of sealed authentic HP
cartridges for 13 quid for my old flatbed Apple
Laserwriter IID that uses the same Canon engine
as its HP twin.
Seems that firms clear out old stock, that was bought
for machines they disposed of years ago.
Excellent print quality, I use an Epson for colour.

 

[Tony]

I bought a Laserjet 5si for $100. It has less than 2000 page count.How
could I go wrong? Well now I've got a 100lb monster in my kitchen and
I don't know if I could get the trashman to take it.

I've got a few questions.

1. What does that page count mean? Can it be tricked, like rolling
back an odometer?

2. I've got grey horizontal bars across the paper in pretty much the
same spot every print. I assume that means the toner is bad?

3. In the middle of the page, the ink seems thicker, as though it
didn't "melt" into the paper. If I use the duplexer, on the back side
that doesn't have print, there is ink where it is thick on the other
side. What's up with that?

I don't want to spend the money for a new toner if that isn't going to
help the thick ink problem.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Frank

Frank
The page count is stored in the formatter board using non-volatile memory. It
can be easily changed from the printer control panel if you enter "Service
Mode".
2000 pages is tiny for a printer of this type and age.
When you talk about horizontal lines, what size paper are you using and are you
viewing the paper in portrait or landscape. This sound like a silly question
but is essential to properly diagnose what is happening.
As DaveG has mentioned, measure the vertical distance exactly between defects
on the front of the page, this can be used to help determine the cause of the
bands. And let us know the paper size and orientation.
The other thing you can do is print a page from the multipurpose tray and lift
the toner cover just as the trailing edge of the page disappears. Then remove
the toner cartridge and look at the printed page, are the bands there? If they
are then we know the problem is an imaging issue, if not then you may have a
fuser problem.
I would remove the duplexer to eliminate it from the equation temporarily.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Philadelphia Frank]

Thank you all for your help. I'll try out what you have suggested and
get back to you Sunday.

Thanks again.

Frank