HP Laserjet 4050N paper path problem!

Mel_P

Mel_P

Mel_P

Soldato
Joined
27 Feb 2004
Posts
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Location
Kent
This is my long term B&W printer - had it for years - noe it's playing up - crinkling the paper as it goes through. Cannot see why?

If its worn out then its for the recycling skip at the tip. Had a look inside and cannot see anything "broken".

Any ideas please?

Thanks, Mel
 
Does it do it from all paper trays? What happens if you open the rear door and print from the manual feed tray so it’s a straight through paper path?
 
Philtor said:
Does it do it from all paper trays? What happens if you open the rear door and print from the manual feed tray so it’s a straight through paper path?
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Yes. On straight through path does it. Something wrong with bit I can't see / get to!! Can't see any debris etc in way. It's so annoying.....
 
If it’s happening from all trays and even when you print straight through to the rear output, then it’s likely the paper feed guide assembly under the toner cartridge area.

I worked on these machines for many years and it’s fixable, but you need to know what you are doing.

Service manuals can be got online but then the cost of the part may not be cheap as the LJ4050 is quite an age now.

If it were me, I would just get another LJ.

Canon make HP Laserjets by the way. Useless fact :D
 
Philtor said:
If it’s happening from all trays and even when you print straight through to the rear output, then it’s likely the paper feed guide assembly under the toner cartridge area.

I worked on these machines for many years and it’s fixable, but you need to know what you are doing.

Service manuals can be got online but then the cost of the part may not be cheap as the LJ4050 is quite an age now.

If it were me, I would just get another LJ.

Canon make HP Laserjets by the way. Useless fact :D
Click to expand...

Thanks - I have downloaded a service manual but unless you get spare parts not much point trying to take it apart - bit like watchmaking on a bigger scale. I do have another HP colour laser MFP M477 - but I had a spare "free" toner carteidge for the 4050N so have tried to keep it going for as long as possible (for general office printing)!
 
Lee said:
Sounds like a fuser unit issue to me
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Could also be the cause but more likely to be the paper feed on these.

Only way to check is a ‘half test’. This is where you lift the lid as the paper is still moving through the paper feed area (and before it hits the fuser) to stop the main motor.

Then you check the state of the paper :)

Fuser issues will create image problems well before they start causing this problem usually.
 
Philtor said:
Only way to check is a ‘half test’. This is where you lift the lid as the paper is still moving through the paper feed area (and before it hits the fuser) to stop the main motor. Then you check the state of the paper.
Click to expand...

Did "half test" - paper state seems OK if I caught going though the rollers etc under the toner cartridge area. If allowed to go further then there is a distinct sound of crunching paper!

Philtor said:
Fuser issues will create image problems well before they start causing this problem usually. Could also be the cause but more likely to be the paper feed on these.
Click to expand...
There are signs of image problems down one side of the paper along a 1/4 strip - fuzzy


Lee said:
Sounds like a fuser unit issue to me
Click to expand...

ALSO - bits black plastic at rear end of printer - 1" x 1/8" (2-3 cm x few mm for any youngsters!)

Looks to be in fuser area. Consulted web - Fuser unit comes out with 2 screws. It is EXACTLY the problem - the (orange) roller has a grey (fuser) sleeve - this is "knackered" (in a word). The end that crinkles the paper has "gone". The sleeve has moved to the right - cracking bits off on this side and left a 1" gap on the left hand side. No wonder it doesn't wotk properly!!!!

HP seem to offer a new unit - £290! A refurbished unit is availble (https://refurbishedland.co.uk/product/hp-refurbished-fuser-unit-for-4000-4050/) - don't think that this is an OCUK competitor (?!) but at £59 - not sure what refurnbished means? Also available refurbished £50 off ebay. Not sure? Wife wants me just to bin it!......no sense of adventure!

Seems you can buy the fuser sleeve for £15 off fleabay direct from China - presume this is what refurbished means?

NB - on fleabay it gives symptoms -
  • l the teflon is flaking off onto the paper
  • l you hear a paper crunching noise when paper pass through the fuser
  • l your printer gives you smeared prints
Yep - that's it!

Thanks for the expert advice guys (Lee and Philtor). Mel, QED
 
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But is it worth £60? It would cost me £120 for a new b&w laser but I do have 2 nearly full toners for the 4050n?
 
Have fitted the reconditioned fuser - it seems to have solved the problem. No crinkly paper. Clean print!

Thanks to you all for advice / suggestions. £49.99 for a "revitalised" printer - and no IEEE waste yet - EXCEPT for the fuser I took out. Have looked on the HP site and they only recycle toners. Seems a shame for the sake of a PTFE sleeve / grease?

Anybody know anyone who recycles individual fuser units (found one place but minimum return = 10 items)? Thanks, Mel
 
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