Laserjet 4000 print issues

[Velvis]

I have a friend who has a Laserjet 4000 that is printing pages with streaks and dark spots.

I dont have a whole lot of experience with it, but a quick google search makes it look like a fuser issue.

It seems you can replace the whole fuser or a fuser sleeve.

I was hoping someone might have experience with these and could recommend if I should replace the whole fuser unit or just the sleeve.

Thanks.

 

[NYJimbo]

I had a 4000 a long time ago. I don't know what prices you are looking at but its probably better to replace the whole fuser, its not really expensive maybe $50 at the most, probably less.

Also tell you friend "The LaserJet 4000 series was introduced in November 1997 and was discontinued in May 1999." Maybe time to move on ?

 

[Velvis]

He loves it and uses it in an auto shop so he really needs a workhorse printer.

If I go route of replacing the fuser, is there anything else I should replace as well?

 

[AndyM]

I look after a good many LJ4000/4100's. Yes, they are old, but the biggest problem with them, is that they're built like brick out houses, and are just so damned reliable. Parts are easy peasy to get hold of. It's really easy to work on, and toner and parts are cheap. If I have a major failure on one, then I have a really good supplier, where I'll just replace the whole machine.

Replace the fuser, or if you've got a supplier for the fuser roll, then just replace that. Takes 10 minutes to strip the fuser down and replace the roll. Just make sure that you clean and grease the relevant areas if you decide to replace the fuser roll.

Andy

 

[NYJimbo]

He loves it and uses it in an auto shop so he really needs a workhorse printer.

If I go route of replacing the fuser, is there anything else I should replace as well?

Wow, I got a feeling there is going to be grime inside that printer and nobody can tell what else is messed up.

Did you see the printer so far ? I would print some pages and listen to the mechanics of it for anything you think might be stress or things not moving around like they should, eyeball it and if its really grimy go for a new printer and not fix this one or you might be back replacing something else and the customer being ****** at you for not telling them something else was going to fail. Auto shops are really brutal on computers and such.

 

[AndyM]

He loves it and uses it in an auto shop so he really needs a workhorse printer.

If I go route of replacing the fuser, is there anything else I should replace as well?

Fuser should suffice.

If it's in a workshop, then I'd get one of his airlines to blow it out. You'll be surprised how much crap they pick up.

Andy

 

[Velvis]

Do you have any links to maintenance guides for the printer?

 

[mr m]

It's easy to fix the fuser. The film cost about $40. Refurbished fusers are a little more and brand new ones get pricey.

It's easy to replace the fixing film if you are handy with hardware. If you're a keyboard guy just replace the whole assembly.

Buy a maintenance kit that includes a fuser for your friend. If the fuser is failing so are the other printer consumables like the supply and feed rollers.

 

[jbartlett323]

Second replace the whole fuser. Much easier, and don't have to grease nothing. Blow it out or vacuum it and your good to go! The only thing these need is toner, paper, and an occasionaly fuser!

Like others have said the biggest problem with the LJ4/LJ5 series is that they just don't die!! Just installed a PCI-e Parallel card in a new Win 7 machine last week for a clients LJ4, used to print checks with MICR toner. Said they haven't maintenanced it in god knows how long... literally...

 

[AndyM]

http://www.printertechs.com/shop/maintenance-kits

Good site. Have a look around.

Andy

 

[Markverhyden]

Do you have any links to maintenance guides for the printer?

http://www.feedroller.com/store/hp_manuals.php

 

[AndyM]

http://www.feedroller.com/store/hp_manuals.php

Rep Added - Thanks Mark

Andy

 

[mr m]

Check out these guys for parts and troubleshooting/fixing guides.

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/

Here is a link for the 4000 service manual. I've never used this site so use caution. I bought a couple of CD's years ago with all the HP service manuals but I can't find the damn things!

http://s3.amazonaws.com/szmanuals/55a6018c59ad11e0dae11f2404554db8

 

[Mokester]

Maybe clean rollers and page picker with iso alcohol...they get slick over time and can cause feed issues...also take a look at the page seperator too since you're in there...thats what I did as standard maintenance when repairing any of those printers. Yes, as mentioned they are bulletproof...

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Likely a fuser...yup.

Those 4000 printers are workhorses....doesn't matter that it's old, they're built like tanks....oodles of times better than the current replacement of a 600pro or whatever and spending 600-700 bucks.

Get further stuck with it, post here....one of our guys is a full HP printer tech certified in a ton of printers, can have him post here to help you.

 

[angry_geek]

Search for the maintenance kit instead of just fuser. It will come with rollers. I just ordered ten of them for customers last week. $90 ea on Amazon.

 

[coffee]

I have a friend who has a Laserjet 4000 that is printing pages with streaks and dark spots.

I dont have a whole lot of experience with it, but a quick google search makes it look like a fuser issue.

It seems you can replace the whole fuser or a fuser sleeve.

I was hoping someone might have experience with these and could recommend if I should replace the whole fuser unit or just the sleeve.

Thanks.

I dont have a chance yet to read the other posts. But what you should do is buy a 'maintenance kit' for the printer. I have repaired these for many years and if your going to replace the fuser might as well get the full maintenance kit.

Streaking on paper usually comes from either the toner cartridge or the fuser transfer roller is wearing out.

Another thought: Look into a used 4050n laserjet. Might be cheaper to buy one for him and have a network card built into it.

coffee

 

[Markverhyden]

To get a better idea of the problem you really need to look at or print the repetitive defects. In addition to looking at a regular printout you need to look at a half page test as well as an engine test.

True, statistically speaking, a maintenance kit will solve 95%+ of the problems. But sometimes a bad toner cartridge, like a refurb, will produce very similar repetitive defects that a fuser does. The great thing is if you follow the trouble shooting steps that HP lists in their service manual you will usually order the correct part the first time.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

...sometimes a bad toner cartridge, like a refurb, will produce very similar repetitive defects that a fuser does.

Actually...very good point you made...."refurb" aftermarket carts....yup, seen 'em do the same thing. Stay away from those. The only non-HP toners that are decent are the ones made by Flotech....and I think HP set them up with the technology for that...there was something unique about them.

 

[codegreen]

Also tell you friend "The LaserJet 4000 series was introduced in November 1997 and was discontinued in May 1999." Maybe time to move on ?

I generally agree with this principle, but those old LaserJets just keep on chuggin'. A lot of excellent engineering went into those things. Replace the fuser, I say! Keep that thing printing for another couple of decades!