Tech Tips for KM4050 Ricoh 1027 & KM-1815

Subject: KM 4050 Error Alert

Question: The machine works fine, but the maintenance required message is on in addition to an error alert. It wouldn’t let me get into the sims, which I assume is the same as the rest of the KM’s: 10871087. If I’m correct, then how else can I get in the sims?

Answer: Status Key, then 10871087. Good Luck.

Answer: You may have to have the front door open at the same time.

Question: Thanks, guys, I forgot the status key. Is there a way to find out what the error is because there is no number showing? I did google that sim entrance late last night and found out about the status key. I should have done that first.

Answer: Did you print out the maintenance mode report under U 000 when you got into maintenance/service mode?  There is a code to reset the maintenance counter listed in that report. Usually it’s code U 251 that gets you to clearing the count on most of these.

Answer: Under MM 000, print an event log; it will list jams as well as recent errors.

Question: Got it! Thanks for all the help. It, as always, is appreciated!

Subject: Ricoh 1027 Wrinkling Paper

Question: I have two Ricoh 1027 machines that when you make a copy it is coming out wrinkled. The wrinkled page may happen one in about 50 copies. I’ve changed the fuser and cleaned the registration roller and have not been able to find the problem. Sometimes the left edge is folded over and that happens before the fuser. Any ideas?  Help! Thanks.

Answer: If it’s that sparse that it jams, it will be tough to find unless you throw a bunch of parts at it. I would check the fuser frame— they are known to break, melt and then fuse uneven and wrinkle the pages. Just something to look at and check.

Answer: Try different paper. Make sure there isn’t a little piece of paper in one of the guides which may affect feed every so often, causing paper to enter the fuser crooked.

Answer: Make sure the lift plate in the paper drawer is not bent.

Answer: Check things around the registration area, like clutches and any plates. Especially check mylars.

Answer: If it’s the same thing on 2 machines, then it’s likely a buildup of fused toner particles on the guide going into the fuser. Do the copies ever exhibit any skewing of the image? If not, then the problem is after the transfer process and before fuser rollers. I’ve seen plenty of machines that build up small specks of fused toner at the guide plate just before the fuser rollers and they can be hard to spot because it would be black on black. Again, if no skewing is present with images then it’s after the drum/transfer area.

Answer: Check the guide plate at the fuser for toner. Good luck.

Answer: You might check the separation pad in the tray—one side usually will wear down, exposing the plastic and causing the paper to skew and wrinkle. This is not common but worth a shot!

Subject: Kyocera KM-1815 Skew

Question: This KM-1815 skews when feeding out of the paper cassette. No such skewing occurs when feeding from the manual feed tray. I’ve dug around in there and examined the cassette to death and really can’t figure out why the paper is skewing. The stop test shows that the left side is about 3 mm behind the right side at the sync rollers. Any thoughts? Ever seen this before? Thanks!

Answer: I think that machine is put together pretty similar to the 1128. I’ve had a problem or two where the registration roller sort of popped up out of position on one side or the other and had to be snapped back in. I don’t think that explains why the bypass is OK but logic is not always a factor in the business of fixing machines.

Answer: Probably the take up roller is not seated on the hub evenly, or it is split on one end. If you hand feed a sheet from the cassette exit into the turnaround area all the way up to the registration rollers, you will know if there is something in the turnaround area or not. The possibility is that you need to take the take up tire off the hub and reinstall it on the hub in reverse; those tires have better grip with them being reversed and you will get a better buckle at the registration rollers.

Question: Thanks. I appreciate the help and will let you know what I find.

Answer: Clean the upper and lower registration roller and make sure the springs in the cassette have even pressure.  How many copies are on the machine? If it has a lot you may need to replace the registration roller.u

Tips appearing in this section are reprinted courtesy of Smarka! The Copier Tech’s Info Source. Tips are randomly selected from submissions emailed to Smarka! Smarka! and ENX Magazine make no guarantees as to the accuracy of tips presented here. Email your tips to Tips@smarka.com. All tips become public domain.

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