From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Hi all.

I've recently started to get poor quality prints from this machine.

The symptoms are that a page is mostly OK. However, there'll be a couple
of 1cm-ish sized patches across the width where the toner is faint to >missing. A few inches down the page (aligned with the faint patch) the >missing toner appears. I'm assuming it's sticking to something in the
print path and being re-transferred - but I don't know how. (I'm very >sketchy about the workings anyway).

I assumed it was the drum, but cleaning this made no difference. I've >replaced toner (about needed anyway) and drum, but the problem persists.

Next stop is possibly the fuser unit, but this is (a) rather
inaccessible and (b) pricey.

Can anyone offer advice please - or do I just cut my losses and buy a
new printer?

Thanks.

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

If the defect repeats down the page it is either the drum unit or fuser.
Can you measure the distance down the page between identical occurences?
94mm indicates the drum
42.7mm indicates the developer roller in the drum unit
34.3mm indicates the primary charge roller in the drum unit.
In any of the above then replace the drum unit if cleaning the drum did not work.
Fuser problems with this printer tend to cause defects on the back of the page. --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

On 11/03/2026 19:08, Tony wrote:

Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Hi all.

I've recently started to get poor quality prints from this machine.

The symptoms are that a page is mostly OK. However, there'll be a couple
of 1cm-ish sized patches across the width where the toner is faint to
missing. A few inches down the page (aligned with the faint patch) the
missing toner appears. I'm assuming it's sticking to something in the
print path and being re-transferred - but I don't know how. (I'm very
sketchy about the workings anyway).

I assumed it was the drum, but cleaning this made no difference. I've
replaced toner (about needed anyway) and drum, but the problem persists.

Next stop is possibly the fuser unit, but this is (a) rather
inaccessible and (b) pricey.

Can anyone offer advice please - or do I just cut my losses and buy a
new printer?

Thanks.

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

If the defect repeats down the page it is either the drum unit or fuser.
Can you measure the distance down the page between identical occurences?
94mm indicates the drum
42.7mm indicates the developer roller in the drum unit
34.3mm indicates the primary charge roller in the drum unit.
In any of the above then replace the drum unit if cleaning the drum did not work.
Fuser problems with this printer tend to cause defects on the back of the page.

Thanks for the reply.

Measures about 100mm - guess that's near enough 94mm, so suggests the drum.

The only thing is, the drum unit has been replaced to no improvement.
Which is what I don't understand.

Replacing the fuser seems pointless - it costs nearly as much as a whole
new printer.
--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

On 11/03/2026 19:08, Tony wrote:

Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Hi all.

I've recently started to get poor quality prints from this machine.

The symptoms are that a page is mostly OK. However, there'll be a couple >>> of 1cm-ish sized patches across the width where the toner is faint to
missing. A few inches down the page (aligned with the faint patch) the
missing toner appears. I'm assuming it's sticking to something in the
print path and being re-transferred - but I don't know how. (I'm very
sketchy about the workings anyway).

I assumed it was the drum, but cleaning this made no difference. I've
replaced toner (about needed anyway) and drum, but the problem persists. >>>
Next stop is possibly the fuser unit, but this is (a) rather
inaccessible and (b) pricey.

Can anyone offer advice please - or do I just cut my losses and buy a
new printer?

Thanks.

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

If the defect repeats down the page it is either the drum unit or fuser.
Can you measure the distance down the page between identical occurences?
94mm indicates the drum
42.7mm indicates the developer roller in the drum unit
34.3mm indicates the primary charge roller in the drum unit.
In any of the above then replace the drum unit if cleaning the drum did not >> work.
Fuser problems with this printer tend to cause defects on the back of the >>page.

Thanks for the reply.

Measures about 100mm - guess that's near enough 94mm, so suggests the drum. Repetitive defect distances are precise Mike.

So 94mm is not close enough, ity is important to measure to the nearest 1mm.

The only thing is, the drum unit has been replaced to no improvement.
Which is what I don't understand.

Neither do I, but the only roller that has a diameter similar to that of the drum will be the fuser.
I agree that replacing the fuser is probably not sensible. Also fuser defects in this printer tend to be on the back of the paper.
Sory that's all I can offer.

Replacing the fuser seems pointless - it costs nearly as much as a whole
new printer.

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

On 12/03/2026 18:51, Tony wrote:

Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

On 11/03/2026 19:08, Tony wrote:

Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Hi all.

I've recently started to get poor quality prints from this machine.

The symptoms are that a page is mostly OK. However, there'll be a couple >>>> of 1cm-ish sized patches across the width where the toner is faint to
missing. A few inches down the page (aligned with the faint patch) the >>>> missing toner appears. I'm assuming it's sticking to something in the
print path and being re-transferred - but I don't know how. (I'm very
sketchy about the workings anyway).

I assumed it was the drum, but cleaning this made no difference. I've
replaced toner (about needed anyway) and drum, but the problem persists. >>>>
Next stop is possibly the fuser unit, but this is (a) rather
inaccessible and (b) pricey.

Can anyone offer advice please - or do I just cut my losses and buy a
new printer?

Thanks.

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

If the defect repeats down the page it is either the drum unit or fuser. >>> Can you measure the distance down the page between identical occurences? >>> 94mm indicates the drum
42.7mm indicates the developer roller in the drum unit
34.3mm indicates the primary charge roller in the drum unit.
In any of the above then replace the drum unit if cleaning the drum did not >>> work.
Fuser problems with this printer tend to cause defects on the back of the >>> page.

Thanks for the reply.

Measures about 100mm - guess that's near enough 94mm, so suggests the drum.

Repetitive defect distances are precise Mike.
So 94mm is not close enough, ity is important to measure to the nearest 1mm.

Thanks for replying.

Given the fuzzy nature of the patches, I and the large difference
between the measures you gave, I only bothered with a "near enough to
choose" precision.

The only thing is, the drum unit has been replaced to no improvement.
Which is what I don't understand.

Neither do I, but the only roller that has a diameter similar to that of the drum will be the fuser.
I agree that replacing the fuser is probably not sensible. Also fuser defects in this printer tend to be on the back of the paper.
Sory that's all I can offer.

Thanks for trying though. Looks like new printer time. The Brother has
worked fairly well, although I've found their linux drivers are
nightmarish to get set up.

Replacing the fuser seems pointless - it costs nearly as much as a whole
new printer.




--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

In article <10p0ctr$2r9t6$1@dont-email.me>,
Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Thanks for trying though. Looks like new printer time. The Brother has >worked fairly well, although I've found their linux drivers are
nightmarish to get set up.

<URL:https://openprinting.github.io/cups/>
# lpadmin -p newbrother -E -v ipp://newbrother.local/ipp/print -m everywhere

John
groenveld@acm.org
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

In comp.periphs.printers,
Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Thanks for trying though. Looks like new printer time. The Brother has worked fairly well, although I've found their linux drivers are
nightmarish to get set up.

?

That has not been my experience in many years of using them. (And
using them up. Printers are a consumable around here.)

Elijah
------
replaces the printer after the second drum wears out
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

On 14/03/2026 07:15, Eli the Bearded wrote:

In comp.periphs.printers,
Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Thanks for trying though. Looks like new printer time. The Brother has
worked fairly well, although I've found their linux drivers are
nightmarish to get set up.

?

That has not been my experience in many years of using them. (And
using them up. Printers are a consumable around here.)

I can't remember all that's happened... but I know I've had a faulty ppd
(True and true don't mean the same), plus 2-sided being the wrong way
round. I had to try alternative ppd's, and was just glad to get
something that worked.

But I have now ordered a new Brother printer (L5210, IIRC), so I'll
start over - maybe try things out in a VM first.

BTW, I tried an experiment yesterday. I wrote a narrow strip the full
height of the paper and covering the faulty area, using a fine B/W check pattern. Did this double-sided. The faulty area is extremely clear - and patches feel like sandpaper to the touch. It does appear worse on side
2. The effect varies a lot also from sheet to sheet.

What it all means, I know not. With a new printer on the way, it's a bit academic now.

Thanks all for comments.

Elijah
------
replaces the printer after the second drum wears out

--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

In article <10p0ctr$2r9t6$1@dont-email.me>,
Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Thanks for trying though. Looks like new printer time. The Brother has >worked fairly well, although I've found their linux drivers are
nightmarish to get set up.

<URL:https://openprinting.github.io/cups/>
# lpadmin -p newbrother -E -v ipp://newbrother.local/ipp/print -m everywhere

John
groenveld@acm.org
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

In article <10p39hq$4ecs$1@dont-email.me>,
Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

But I have now ordered a new Brother printer (L5210, IIRC), so I'll

<URL:https://www.brother-usa.com/products/hll5210dw#specification>

start over - maybe try things out in a VM first.

Wise.

John
groenveld@acm.org
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

Hi all.

I've recently started to get poor quality prints from this machine.

The symptoms are that a page is mostly OK. However, there'll be a couple
of 1cm-ish sized patches across the width where the toner is faint to
missing. A few inches down the page (aligned with the faint patch) the
missing toner appears. I'm assuming it's sticking to something in the
print path and being re-transferred - but I don't know how. (I'm very
sketchy about the workings anyway).

I assumed it was the drum, but cleaning this made no difference. I've
replaced toner (about needed anyway) and drum, but the problem persists.

Next stop is possibly the fuser unit, but this is (a) rather
inaccessible and (b) pricey.

Can anyone offer advice please - or do I just cut my losses and buy a
new printer?

Thanks.
--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.periphs.printers

On 14/03/2026 12:54, John D Groenveld wrote:

In article <10p0ctr$2r9t6$1@dont-email.me>,
Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> wrote:

Thanks for trying though. Looks like new printer time. The Brother has
worked fairly well, although I've found their linux drivers are
nightmarish to get set up.

<URL:https://openprinting.github.io/cups/>
# lpadmin -p newbrother -E -v ipp://newbrother.local/ipp/print -m everywhere

John
groenveld@acm.org

Hi all. Thanks to all who commented.

The 5210 arrived, I plugged it in, and it "just worked" - a welcome change.

I guess the old one will hit the recycle facilities - but it goes
against the grain. Maybe I just have old-fashioned ideas about repairing things.
--
Mike Scott
Harlow, England
--- Synchronet 3.21e-Linux NewsLink 1.2