Problem with LaserJet 4M...rollers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dan
  • Start date Start date
D

Dan

Hi,

I picked up a LaserJet 4M printer someone was throwing out. It had
the accessories like envelope feeder and lower cassette, so I couldn't
pass it up. My very first laser printer :)

The problem seems to always be a paper jam just after 2/3 of the text
is applied to the paper. The paper jams about 2/3 of the way down the
paper, so about 2/3 of the test page gets transferred to paper before
jamming. I thought it might be the fuser roller (or one of the
easier-to-replace rollers) that's the problem, but I'm not sure. Is
cleaning the fuser roller a standard maintenance procedure?

A separate problem comes when booting up the printer. The motor makes
a really loud grind, then the printer entirely shuts down. However,
if I leave it for a couple minutes, it starts back up, and after the
motor runs a few more times everything sounds fine....except for the
first problem. Are they related?

Thanks very much,
Dan
 
Dan said:
Hi,

I picked up a LaserJet 4M printer someone was throwing out. It had
the accessories like envelope feeder and lower cassette, so I couldn't
pass it up. My very first laser printer :)

The problem seems to always be a paper jam just after 2/3 of the text
is applied to the paper. The paper jams about 2/3 of the way down the
paper, so about 2/3 of the test page gets transferred to paper before
jamming. I thought it might be the fuser roller (or one of the
easier-to-replace rollers) that's the problem, but I'm not sure. Is
cleaning the fuser roller a standard maintenance procedure?

A separate problem comes when booting up the printer. The motor makes
a really loud grind, then the printer entirely shuts down. However,
if I leave it for a couple minutes, it starts back up, and after the
motor runs a few more times everything sounds fine....except for the
first problem. Are they related?
Click to expand...

On the older LJ 3, One of the gears on the fuser siezes up
causing a grinding noise during operation. Taking it apart and
carefully re-drilling out the hole in the gear has solved the
problem for me. It could be that you have a similar problem.

Bob
 
Dan said:
Hi,

I picked up a LaserJet 4M printer someone was throwing out. It had
the accessories like envelope feeder and lower cassette, so I couldn't
pass it up. My very first laser printer :)

The problem seems to always be a paper jam just after 2/3 of the text
is applied to the paper. The paper jams about 2/3 of the way down the
paper, so about 2/3 of the test page gets transferred to paper before
jamming. I thought it might be the fuser roller (or one of the
easier-to-replace rollers) that's the problem, but I'm not sure. Is
cleaning the fuser roller a standard maintenance procedure?

A separate problem comes when booting up the printer. The motor makes
a really loud grind, then the printer entirely shuts down. However,
if I leave it for a couple minutes, it starts back up, and after the
motor runs a few more times everything sounds fine....except for the
first problem. Are they related?

Thanks very much,
Dan
Click to expand...

Back in the days when I worked on printers, which I don't now, for which I
often give thanks, we always cleaned the rubber rollers of any printer that
we serviced. The liquid we used was only to be used for that and it had a
lot of citrus oil in it. I can't find the stuff any more, our supplier is
completely gone from the Internet but the closest thing I can find is the
gum off stuff that is made to remove labels.

AG
 
Use Lighter Fluid...
It cleans better than any citrus product I've used,
It leaves no oily residue, and the smell doesn't get on your nerves as
quick.
 
Darn. Now that you've given me that info I won't have the excuse that I
can't get the stuff any more.
I still refuse to work on printers. It's not my job man.

AG
 
Dan said:
Hi,

I picked up a LaserJet 4M printer someone was throwing out. It had
the accessories like envelope feeder and lower cassette, so I couldn't
pass it up. My very first laser printer :)

The problem seems to always be a paper jam just after 2/3 of the text
is applied to the paper. The paper jams about 2/3 of the way down the
paper, so about 2/3 of the test page gets transferred to paper before
jamming. I thought it might be the fuser roller (or one of the
easier-to-replace rollers) that's the problem, but I'm not sure. Is
cleaning the fuser roller a standard maintenance procedure?

A separate problem comes when booting up the printer. The motor makes
a really loud grind, then the printer entirely shuts down. However,
if I leave it for a couple minutes, it starts back up, and after the
motor runs a few more times everything sounds fine....except for the
first problem. Are they related?

Thanks very much,
Dan
Click to expand...

The motor is probably failing and can't pull the paper all the way
through the paper path. I would toss it. You can get a serious burn form
the fuser and eye damage from the laser.
 
I would not clean the roller with any chemical. The fuser rollers have
a silicone coating to keep the paper from sticking to the roller, and if
you remove it you will have a lot of problems.
 
Barry Watzman said:
I would not clean the roller with any chemical. The fuser rollers have a
silicone coating to keep the paper from sticking to the roller, and if you
remove it you will have a lot of problems.
Click to expand...
We always just replaced fuser rollers. It was the rubber rollers that we
cleaned. I guess I really didn't make that clear.

AG
 
For cleaning the rollers, I would suggest that you god to a commercial
electronics distributor and ask what is recommenced for pressure rollers ad
belt on tape machines. I used to use alcohol isporoponal.

As for the possibility of it being the motor is concerned I would check that
shaft for side motion.

Motors have a habit of the rotor rubbing and catching to the stator when the
bearings are worn. Replacing bearings if they are roller bearings is not
that difficult a task, nor is rebuilding other parts of the motor. Just use
commonsense and take your time and ask lots of questions.

Albert
 
BobS said:
Dan,

Most likely it's the small rubber rollers on the back about half way up and
the ones on the top. If the paper is jamming into a fan-fold pattern, then
this is most likely the problem and the cure could be a simple cleaning with
some isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips.

You may want to give this site a look
http://www.hp-depot.com/default.asp?page=showkits&model=all

Bob S.
Click to expand...


Sorry. Can't see O.P.

I futzed a LJ-4 out of the solid fan-fold jam problem by removing the
final set of rollers, cleaning them, and then >gently< drawing #300
sandpaper >across< each one just enough to knock off some of the shiny
surface. Then wash again, thoroughly, and wipe dry. I used ethanol
because run-of-the-mill isopropanol ("rubbing alcohol") has oil in it.

Those rollers should have been replaced, but at the time I didn't know
that replacements were available, and the printer's owner needed the
printer to work ... NOW.
 
Hi
This printer must be too good to throw out, especially since it came with the
envelope feeder.
You can probably get specialist advice easily on the fixyourownprinter.com
forum
Kind
Ian
 
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