3100cn color streaks after drum replacement

Question

I have been having problem with white and off-color streaks on my 3100cn. Dell support sent me a new drum under warranty (incredibly quickly BTW -- it arrived the day after I gave them my info) which fixed most but not all of the problem. I have taken some pictures to illustrate what I'm facing.

Here's a copy of the magenta 20% page before the new drum was installed:

After the drum installation, it looks like this:

In addition, the black 20% page looks like this. It's hard to see on this picture but clearly noticable in person that there is a "blotch" at this spot every time I print the page:

Here's a graphic that shows the overall streaking problem more vividly:

Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks!

5ofusinaz · Answer

I should add also, that the 'before' cyan and yellow pages also had the white streak, but after the drum replacement, the cyan and yellow pages look perfect -- unlike the magenta page.

llynster · Answer

I think your laser glass is dirty.

To clean the Laser Scanner glass:
1. Open the front door and locate the blue handle on the right side of the door frame.
2. Pull it all the way out until it stops. This opens a trap door on the right side cover of the printer.
3. Inside that trap door is a blue cleaning wand. In one continuous motion, pull it all the way out until it stops, then push it all the way in until it stops.
4. Do this about 3-4 times, making sure you pull it all the way out and push it all the way in. This cleans the laser scanner glass.

5ofusinaz · Answer

Thanks -- but I've done that more times than I can count, and it's had no impact.

llynster · Answer

OK..... 2nd possibility is toner clumping behind a developer trim blade in one or more of your developers.

If you cycle thru each of the toner replacement sequences, for each color, open the front door (you don't need to remove the toner cart) and inspect the roller that has a fuzzy, even texture appearance all the way across. (the roller for that color is above the toner cart... use a flashlight) If any areas on the roller appear to be "balding", then that means toner is clumping behind the trim blade and rubbing the toner from the roller. That developer would need to be replaced.

Another thought...... Does this hapen an ALL colors (in the same area), or just one? (All..... I think?)

Are you sure the Laser glass cleaning pad is mounted on the cleaning wand? If you pull the wand all the way out as far as possible, you should see the cleaning pad mounted underneath the wand arm, closest to the wand opening. The new drum should have come with a NEW cleaning pad to replace the old. A lot of folks don't know what they're used for and "chuck 'em".

5ofusinaz · Answer

The magenta roller has a 'bald spot' right where the streak is.  This is happening with only that color, not all colors. Yes, I replaced the cleaning pad when I got the new drum, and it is where it's supposed to be.  It has gotten pretty dirty already from the many times I've used it in the past few days, but it's had no impact on the print quality. So, presuming the magenta roller is the problem... how do we resolve it?  You say 'That developer would need to be replaced.'  How do we go about doing that? Thanks

llynster · Answer

Did you get any pictures?   You would need to call Dell tech support and tell them you need a Magenta Developer assy replaced on your 3100cn printer. They'll need the service tag for your printer.

5ofusinaz · Answer

So I've replaced the magenta developer assembly, following the instructions on the DCSE website to a tee, and I appear to have completely destroyed my printer. Here are pictures of a few pages I tried to print @ 100% black, 100% magenta, 100% cyan (20% pages are almost invisible):

NOW what do I do?

llynster · Answer

Wow..... I'm sure it goes without saying, your printer is one sick puppy right now.

There's so much trash on the print samples attached that it's hard to know where to begin.

We KNOW the Magenta Developer assy was bad because of your description of the "bald" spot on the Developer mag roller. Something went seriously wrong here.

Did you encounter any difficulties replacing the Magenta Dev. Assy?

Can you tell me exactly which DCSE process you used?

And certainly don't mean to sound belittling or insulting, but what is your level of experience working with the internals of Laser Printers?

5ofusinaz · Answer

Don't worry, I'm not insulted. I am generally a pretty handy person and fix a lot of things, but had not worked on a laser printer previously. The Dell rep who sold me the part told me I could do it and gave me the info to get into DCSE. I downloaded the 3100cn guide and followed the Developer Housings replacement process (3100cn/3100cn/developerhousingmagenta.htm). I followed all the preliminary steps outlined there, both removal and replacement. It was a long process (probably took me two hours due to all the preliminary steps) because I have not done something like this before.

Generally speaking, it went pretty well, but I did run into two problems that had me a little concerned at the time:

I touched the fuzzy roller portion of the new developer and a couple of the other developers several times while rotating the frame (and got toner on my hands). I didn't know whether that would cause a problem, potentially leaving some skin oil behind on the fuzzy rollers.
When I finally got all the way to actually removing and replacing the developer housing, and I replaced the white tab on the right side of the housing, it was difficult to get everything lined up just right. The new developer didn't have the metal part on the left side through which the screw was supposed to go, so I cannibalized the old developer, and even when I did, I discovered that it was still not seated correctly after I reassembled everything, turned it on, and it didn't sound right. Opened it back up, rotated the frame, and saw that the white tab had popped out. I never did find it, so I had to reuse the old white tab. I then removed the yellow toner cart so that I could see exactly how the developer is supposed to sit inside the frame, and was able to get it lined up correctly the second time. When I powered up, everything sounded normal (after an initial unusual sound, presumably due to me manually rotating the frame -- yes I had the rotor latch pressed). So it sounds perfectly normal now, although somewhere in there floating around is the white tab that fell out on the first attempt.

I was hoping you were going to tell me that I forgot something obvious. I am now wondering why the Dell rep told me I could do this myself if it is this easy to screw it up. I obviously should have had someone come out and repair it, but I went on the Dell rep's assurance that I could do it.

llynster · Answer

Well, let's see what we can do. Let me try an address the issues one by one:

I followed all the preliminary steps outlined there, both removal and replacement. It was a long process (probably took me two hours due to all the preliminary steps) because I have not done something like this before.
The steps for Removing the 2nd BTR and the Vertical Transport Assy are not required. I've tried to feed this info back to Dell a couple times now..... I guess my feedback hasn't made it anywhere yet.

NOW..... If the 2nd BTR roller were not reinstalled correctly or not rotating, I could see this problem occurring. The 2nd BTR roller would be pressing against the paper backside and be in constant contact with the Belt when it's not supposed to be. The 2nd BTR is positioned in or our (against the belt) by a cam assembly. Take a look at the "pointy" end of the drum cartridge (the end that goes in 1st). Does it look like a lot of toner is caking up in that area? Or, is there any toner caking up on the 2nd BTR itself?

I touched the fuzzy roller portion of the new developer and a couple of the other developers several times while rotating the frame (and got toner on my hands). I didn't know whether that would cause a problem, potentially leaving some skin oil behind on the fuzzy rollers.

If your hands were coated in grease, it may present a problem. Otherwise, light contact on the "fuzzy" (magnetic) roller not enough to cause a problem.

When I finally got all the way to actually removing and replacing the developer housing, and I replaced the white tab on the right side of the housing, it was difficult to get everything lined up just right. The new developer didn't have the metal part on the left side through which the screw was supposed to go, so I cannibalized the old developer, and even when I did, I discovered that it was still not seated correctly after I reassembled everything, turned it on, and it didn't sound right. Opened it back up, rotated the frame, and saw that the white tab had popped out. I never did find it, so I had to reuse the old white tab. I then removed the yellow toner cart so that I could see exactly how the developer is supposed to sit inside the frame, and was able to get it lined up correctly the second time. When I powered up, everything sounded normal (after an initial unusual sound, presumably due to me manually rotating the frame -- yes I had the rotor latch pressed). So it sounds perfectly normal now, although somewhere in there floating around is the white tab that fell out on the first attempt.

Well, startup sounds that "aren't right" are a concern. It sounds like you know your printer well enough to know when it doesn't sound right. The plastic piece is not conductive so it won't short out anything, but I'd be concerned about where it might end up.

I'd also suggest examining the bluish-green drum underneath the IBT/Drum cart unit. Turn it over, with a finger at each end and rotate the drum. It'll turn easier in one direction that the other, but both ways will be stiff; this is normal. Hopefully, the drum is not damaged. It should be a high gloss all over and not have any scratches or blemishes. DON'T touch the Blu-grn area !!

I was hoping you were going to tell me that I forgot something obvious. I am now wondering why the Dell rep told me I could do this myself if it is this easy to screw it up. I obviously should have had someone come out and repair it, but I went on the Dell rep's assurance that I could do it.

I've met some of the techs trained on these Dell printers and to a person, they tell me this is one of the things they like replacing the least in this printer. I'm also curious why the Dell rep was "assured" you could do it. This is usually done only by trained techs.

Message Edited by llynster on 02-20-2008 12:58 PM

Message Edited by llynster on 02-20-2008 01:00 PM

5ofusinaz · Answer

I *thought* some of the steps seemed unnecessary, because they didn't seem to even be in the vicinity of the developer housing, but I was just "following orders."

You were right about the 2nd BTR. Toner was caking on the right side of it, and the left end of it (with the sprocket) was somewhat mangled - not the gearing itself but a bit of the smooth plastic next to the gearing. I removed and re-installed it and it seemed to be engaged properly with the gears the second time. At first, I thought we were in business. I was able to get a test print out and it was at least legible and not smeared, though it was still not up-to-snuff. I tried printing it a couple more times, and then the printer balked, whirred for a while, clunk clunk the normal sounds it makes when recalibrating, but then it wouldn't get to Ready anymore. I opened her back up, and NOW the printer drum has a sheet of rubber coming out of it, clearly it got mangled somehow, and I can see mangenta toner on the drum itself. Picture below. This is a disaster. Especially upsetting since Dell's own instructions had me removing a component unnecessarily, and it was that component that triggered all of this.

Now what? This was a new drum replaced via warranty at the start of this whole process.

Picture of 2nd BTR manglement:

Picture of toner caked on 2nd BTR:

Pictures of drum:

Picture of me:

:'-(

I was actually supposed to have 100 copies of an 8-page brochure printed by this weekend. Looks like I'm totally hosed now.

llynster · Answer

WOW, what a train wreck!!

I have NEVER seen one of these belts break. I think I would see if Dell-Bill might spring for another drum..... be sure to include the URL to your last post.

obtw...... has anyone (i.e., a Moderator) mentioned to you yet that the max width of pictures is supposed to be 460pixels or less? Technically, it's a T.O.S. violation that can cause the entire thread to be removed. Just thought I'd mention it. There's an FAQ on this subject buried somewhere in the Forum.

At home now..... will reply more tomorrow.

5ofusinaz · Answer

No, I didn't know about the picture size restrictions -- this was my first time to post here.  I will abide by that from here on out. I will send a note to Bill.

5ofusinaz · Answer

I have the 2nd BTR on order and expect to see it at my doorstep either tonight or tomorrow. Can you help me know how to verify for certain that I have it installed & seated properly before I try to use it, since my previous apparent mis-seating of it appears to have caused the drum/belt catastrophe?

Thanks

llynster · Answer

I'm on travel (in training) all this week, but I'll see what I can do. Can't guarantee I can give you much time until Monday, though.

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3100cn color streaks after drum replacement

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