Brother HL-1440 streaks

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John Richards

I just started using a Brother HL-1440 in my main system to replace my
workhorse HP 4L (while it is waiting for a new toner cartridge - another
story). The Brother was previously used in a second system with very little
use initially and no use in about a year. Now, in my main system, copies
from the Brother have a very light vertical streak/smudge (excess toner -
shows up on blank pages also) that covers about 4-5 inches in the center of
the sheet and then disappears toward the edges. I tried cleaning the corona
wire twice and then printed numerous blank pages with no noticeable
improvement.

From what I've read, it seems that the toner cartridge would be the first
thing to replace. But from my experience with my HP-4L, when the toner
cartridge is low, the print just tends to get lighter in the center of the
sheet which is just the opposite of what's happening with the Brother.
Unless I'm overlooking something in the way the toner cartridge actually
functions, my problem seems more likely to be caused by the drum.

Since there doesn't seem to be any access to the drum for cleaning or any
other maintenance, my only option, as far as I can see, is to replace the
drum. Unfortunately the drum (DR-400) costs $175 which is more than the
cost of the printer. If I did try the drum and that didn't solve the
problem, then do I try a new toner cartridge (another $50) which would bring
my "repair" cost to $225 for a $100 (initial cost with rebate) printer, and
still have no guarantee that the problem would be solved?

Can anyone suggest a less costly solution or do I just have to live with the
steaks?

Thanks
John
 
John Richards said:
I just started using a Brother HL-1440 in my main system to replace my
workhorse HP 4L (while it is waiting for a new toner cartridge - another
story). The Brother was previously used in a second system with very little
use initially and no use in about a year. Now, in my main system, copies
from the Brother have a very light vertical streak/smudge (excess toner -
shows up on blank pages also) that covers about 4-5 inches in the center of
the sheet and then disappears toward the edges. I tried cleaning the corona
wire twice and then printed numerous blank pages with no noticeable
improvement.

From what I've read, it seems that the toner cartridge would be the first
thing to replace. But from my experience with my HP-4L, when the toner
cartridge is low, the print just tends to get lighter in the center of the
sheet which is just the opposite of what's happening with the Brother.
Unless I'm overlooking something in the way the toner cartridge actually
functions, my problem seems more likely to be caused by the drum.

Since there doesn't seem to be any access to the drum for cleaning or any
other maintenance, my only option, as far as I can see, is to replace the
drum. Unfortunately the drum (DR-400) costs $175 which is more than the
cost of the printer. If I did try the drum and that didn't solve the
problem, then do I try a new toner cartridge (another $50) which would bring
my "repair" cost to $225 for a $100 (initial cost with rebate) printer, and
still have no guarantee that the problem would be solved?

Can anyone suggest a less costly solution or do I just have to live with the
steaks?

Thanks
John
Click to expand...

John
Brother toner cartridges work very differently to HP cartrdiges.
WhenBrother cartridges get low on toner they apply a gray cast to the sheet,
this is because there is an imbalance between toner and developer in a low
cartridge.
There can be no guarantee, but the chances are high that your problem is a low
toner cartrdige.
Tony
 
Tony said:
SNIP...

SNIP...


John
Brother toner cartridges work very differently to HP cartrdiges.
WhenBrother cartridges get low on toner they apply a gray cast to the
sheet,
this is because there is an imbalance between toner and developer in a low
cartridge.
There can be no guarantee, but the chances are high that your problem is a
low
toner cartrdige.
Tony
Click to expand...

Sounds reasonable. If it is the toner cartridge getting low then I would
suspect that even if the "gray cast" (I like that description) continues (or
gets worse?), the print would eventually begin to fade? Since I'm not
printing anything now other than temporary hard copies for my own use, maybe
I'll just leave it alone for a while and see what happens.

Thanks
John
 
John Richards said:
Sounds reasonable. If it is the toner cartridge getting low then I would
suspect that even if the "gray cast" (I like that description) continues (or
gets worse?), the print would eventually begin to fade? Since I'm not
printing anything now other than temporary hard copies for my own use, maybe
I'll just leave it alone for a while and see what happens.

Thanks
John
Click to expand...

John, yes you would expect it to get worse and the print will fade.
Two thoughts.
If you remove the toner cartridges and shake it left to right and back again a
few times it will redistribute the toner and will also "re-mix" the developer
that is left. This may produce a different pattern of grayness, if so then it
is definitely the toner, if not it may still be the toner or it may be
something else. It is worth cleaning the laser mirror with a soft lint free
cloth. Remove the cartridge (Drum and toner), look into the printer and upwards
and you will see a slot that runs side to side. The mirror is just inside the
slot, do not use anyything that is abrasive, you can use a cloth dampened with
water or window cleaner. The symptoms you describe don't fit a dirty mirror too
well but it's worth a try.
The other thing is whether you are getting a toner low indication on the
printer front panel (both lights on or blinking that are above and below the
word "Toner"), if so then there is another clue.
Tony
 
Tony said:
John, yes you would expect it to get worse and the print will fade.
Two thoughts.
If you remove the toner cartridges and shake it left to right and back
again a
few times it will redistribute the toner and will also "re-mix" the
developer
that is left. This may produce a different pattern of grayness, if so then
it
is definitely the toner, if not it may still be the toner or it may be
something else.
Click to expand...

I did shake the cartridge when I took it out to clean the corona wire but it
didn't seem to make a difference.
It is worth cleaning the laser mirror with a soft lint free
cloth. Remove the cartridge (Drum and toner), look into the printer and
upwards
and you will see a slot that runs side to side. The mirror is just inside
the
slot, do not use anyything that is abrasive, you can use a cloth dampened
with
water or window cleaner. The symptoms you describe don't fit a dirty
mirror too
well but it's worth a try.
The other thing is whether you are getting a toner low indication on the
printer front panel (both lights on or blinking that are above and below
the
word "Toner"), if so then there is another clue.
Click to expand...

No toner indicator light but I will try cleaning the mirror - you never
know. Other than that I think I will live with the streaks until it becomes
obvious that the toner is getting low.
Tony
Click to expand...

Thanks much for your help

John
 
Can anyone suggest a less costly solution or do I just have to live with the
steaks?
Click to expand...

Guess you never looked at the customer reviews at CNET or Amazon.
What you are describing is hardly unusual. You can clean the corona
wires the rest of your life and nothing will change. As you have
suggested, the solution is either a new toner cartridge or drum as
your old one apparently is shot. Some persuasive folks have called up
Brother and have gotten them to send them replacement parts. If that
does not work for you, you might as well find a generic/remanufactured
consumable from Ebay. Buy a toner first. If that fails, try getting
a drum. Or, you might try another option that seems to be popular:
Cursing at Brother and vow never to buy any of their lasers again.
 
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