Question:. I have been filling the Xerox XC 1255 family and Sharp Z 830 series copiers that use the toner cartridge for years. It seems that neither the remanufactured drum nor toners seem to hold the toner density. Sometimes when I replace both with reman they may work great for a while but down the road, the density is very weak. Is there a setting or calibration adjustment that we can make to get them to run darker? I know it’s an old machine but I have a few out there and it’s aggravating that they won’t stay dark. Any ideas would be great. Thank you.
Answer: No answers, just guesses. Since those machines were contemporary with stuff like SF-7300, SF-8870, etc. I suspect that the t/d are probably the same material, just different packaging. If you can get a hold of any OEM supplies for those 20-year-old beasts, maybe the XC cartridges will work better. Just a guess. In my opinion, that series of machines (XC/Z-810 etc.) was one of the best ever made. Sharp didn’t make an “SF” version of them but if they had they would have done great. Easy to work on. Completely predictable and reliable. XD machines came out around ‘98, so I guess those were manufactured from ‘94-‘97 or so. But I always say, “Keep ‘em running.”
Answer: That’s a tough one, but it does sound like it’s the supplies you’re using. I don’t know of any adjustment. Try to find OEM. Is this just one machine or many machines with these symptoms? I’m assuming many, which would lead me to think the supplies. Try different brands if you can’t find OEM—Xerox compatibles may be available, as they do use OEM supplies, just different casing. Good luck, mate!
Answer: Did you totally clean the transfer corona case and new transfer wire? Maybe the balance of charge is off and the DV is pulled, leaving washed out copies.
Question: Hi good ol’ boys. You talk like these are old dinosaurs. Don’t you remember just a few years ago that’s all we had? Funny how things change. Yes, I have had this symptom with recharged supplies for over ten years. I had replaced the drum and toner in August and now they want to make a copy of an x-ray in a doctor’s office with a solid black rectangle maybe 2×5 inches. Anyway, do those of you that know this machine know the weak solids and the strange light circles in the weak solid areas? I removed the transfer corotron assembly and changed the wire. Luckily it’s not like the Canon NP 6050 charge wires that I can’t see and am too shaky now to change. But it still took a little doing to change this one. (In my younger years, I could change a corotron wire blind folded. Now, not so much.) So the new wire didn’t change much. I will go back and just change the toner with another recharge. I carry them but didn’t want to deal with it. It is a hit or a miss. I have another customer with one. Sometimes they do ok, others not so good. But I seem to remember that in the times long past, if I used OEM, copy quality was good. The reman toners and drums never did well. Also these machines get hot as they are ready all day and no cooling. I think that is a good idea to try to get old SF 7300 and 7750 supplies and try them. OEM might help as well. But it may be futile to attempt to gather those supplies. After all, we have tossed them all out years ago. I was just wondering if someone somewhere had fiddled around back in the day and had a potentiometer that they turned to darken up the density. I think if the toner density sensor was set a little darker, it may help? Maybe you’re all right. It may have been crappy developer from generic vendors that just wears out really fast. Anyway, thanks for the response you guys, I appreciate the feedback and condolences from you all.
Answer: If you are changing the developer with the toner, and biases are correct, and your drum is a known good one (gold drums aren’t making it as you have to change them with every rebuild), then one way to increase density is to shim the ADC sensor out .005 to .020. I use a .005 plastic washer saved from past tear downs of various machines. They are the exact size of the OD of the sensor and work excellent.
Question: Wow, that is a great trick. Yes, I always use new generic toner and developer to refill. And when I do the drum unit, a new generic drum and blade. Do you remember where you find the plastic washers? I was remembering that there are some user settings we can change, but I would think that it wouldn’t help this issue as they always start off good and then go downhill. It could also be a worn charge wire. Wait, does it have the saw tooth plate? But I don’t remember if I have changed the charge wire. I will have to look again. Thanks a bunch.
Answer: The charge is a saw tooth setup. The washers came from various copier teardowns. Thin spacers are against Oilite bearings, clutches, etc. I keep all the unusual stuff just for this reason.
Question: I was thinking after I read your reply that I do remember some black spacer washers next to either clutches or bushings. I will look to see if I have any. Thank you. Great find you found. Wish I knew 15 years ago. Have a great weekend.
