Xerox DC250 Style: Reconditioning the Color Drum Cartridges

The highly popular Xerox DC250 style has proliferated into a whole range of models, each with their own versions of the color drum cartridges.  It is high time we revisited this type of drum cartridge and brought all of these new models into the fold. We’ll get into the differences, talk about “best practices” and revisit the rebuilding instructions.

Here are the many cartridge reorder numbers and their respective models:

13R603 / 013R00603 – For (Docucolor) DC-240,250,242,252,260, (WorkCentre) WC-7655, 7665, 7675, 7755, 7765, 7775

13R656 / 013R00656 – For (Digital Color Press) DCP-700

13R664 / 013R00664 – For Xerox Color 550, 560

13R649 / 013R00649 – For (DocuColor) DC-5000

13R672 / 013R00672 – For Xerox Color C75, J75 Press

Many folks have found that you can maximize the yield by cleaning up the cartridge and replacing the CRUM chip and charge roll after the first cycle. In most cases this will nearly double the cartridge’s initial yield.  Then when the drum is actually worn out, you can do a full rebuild.  Good aftermarket parts (drums, blades, charge rolls (PCR) and CRUM chips, as well as PCR cleaning rolls) are all available these days.  Or you can pick up a cartridge rebuild kit which includes all of those parts.  Go green!  It makes for good common sense to maximize the yields on these cartridges rather than letting them go to a landfill too early.

The best success stories surrounding rebuilding these drum cartridges tell of setting up a workbench where one or two techs in a dealership can rebuild cartridges for the company. This allows the technicians to deliver the cartridges as ready to go units.  It simply makes the tech look good. They don’t have to make a big awkward mess at the customer’s location, complete with vacuum cleaner blaring.  Having a few hand-picked techs doing these all the time makes them experts at the process.  Most of them do cartridges for a few hours and then hit the field to answer their usual calls.  It also proves to be far more efficient to work in a facility.  A clear workspace with all of the necessary tools handy is priceless.  Odd spare parts and extra used cartridge cores are within easy grasp if something unusual needs replacing.  When setting up a workbench, it is important to have a machine nearby to test cartridges before they go out to the field.  This allows the techs to catch any mistakes and to solve potential problems without inconveniencing your customers.

Now let’s see what makes the many versions of the cartridges different from one another.  The primary difference which makes each cartridge version unique is the CRUM chips which are found inside the rear end cover of each cartridge.  The drum count is kept on the drum cartridge by this RF Connector CRUM (Radio Frequency, Customer Replaceable Unit Monitor).  Replacing that CRUM will reset the drum count.  Each cartridge version has its own version of the CRUM chip, so make sure you order the correct one for the machine you’re working on:

DC250CNC (for DC250 version 13R603 cartridges),

DC700CNC (for DCP 700 version 13R565),

550CNC (for 550 version 13R664),

5000CNC (for DC5000 version 13R649),

J75CNC (for C75 / J75 version 13R672).

There is one other difference which sets the original DC250 version (13R603) apart from all of the newcomers.  All of the new versions are shaped slightly different in that they have an additional piece on top. Instead of using a stationary brush to clean the charge roll as was found in the DC250 version, a cleaning roll has been added to the newer designs.  This turns out to be a substantial improvement as it helps the charge roll last a lot longer.  Fortunately, the drum, blade, and charge roll are interchangeable among all of the versions.

PROCEDURE:

1. Remove the Rear End Cover (1 Phillips head screw (see Photo #2).  The RF Connector CRUM sits in this cover.  You’ll need to replace it to reset the drum count (see below for details).  The rear finger pull comes right off as does the charge roll contact pin.
2. Remove the Front End Cover (1 Phillips head screw).   Now the front finger pull will fall right off.
3. If the cartridge is one of the newer versions, remove the cleaning roll’s cover from the top of the cartridge by pivoting it to the left to lift off (see Photo #3).
4. Remove the Charge Roller Assembly. You can release it by simply rocking it to the right and lifting off (see Photo #4).  If yours is one of the newer versions, the charge roll assembly will also include the cleaning roll.  It will come off similarly to the DC250 version shown in the photo.
5. Remove the Drum as follows: Turn the cartridge on its left side so that the drum is presented upwards.  Slide the front drum retaining clip forward and off (see Photo #5) and the rear drum retaining clip towards the rear and off.  Now the drum with its two bearings can be lifted up and out of its cradles.  This drum is very similar in design to the one on the black drum cartridge but the diameter is considerably smaller.
6. The Drum Blade comes off next. Remove 2 screws and cut the barcode sticker which is half on the drum blade’s metal bracket and half on the plastic frame of the cartridge.  Pry the metal ‘C’ clip off of the left side of the cartridge if one is present (see Photo #7).  It is adhered in place by double sided tape.  Now the blade will lift off.  There is a thin Mylar piece stuck to the underside of the blade which serves like a chute which guides the waste toner from the blade to the waste toner auger.
7. Clean everything gently with a vacuum with a toner-rated filter.  Be very gentle around the Mylar guide on the blade and also around the Mylar recovery blade on the frame opposite where the cleaning blade sits.

Replacing the Drum Reset CRUMs

The original CRUM can slide out of its slot but the new replacement CRUMs will not fit in the same way because they have larger components. It is necessary to remove the rear end cover from the cartridge to replace the CRUM.  See the photos below.  Be very gentle with the replacement CRUM to avoid damaging the components.  The replacement CRUM should be positioned as shown in the 3^rd photo.

That is all you’ll need to know on these guys!  Very easy, very rewarding and environmentally friendly too!  Happy Reconditioning folks.