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 Tech Tips

February 2011
Subject: Sharp ARM455
Question: I am getting a slight knocking noise from the drum unit. I emptied the auger and cleaned out the gear area. All the gears look fine. It only does it during a copy process. Any ideas?

Answer: Open the left (drum) side oil; it’s usually the hanging idler gear. If not start looking for a bad gear (tooth missing, pointed, or just plain worn). Good luck.

Answer: Check for a flat spot on the lower heat roller. They make a clunking sound.

Answer: Make sure you look at the transfer roller gear! I have had these wear and cause knocking noises.

Answer: If you can’t reproduce the noise in tc 25 or 6, I would suspect the main drive unit. The thumping noise occurs when the ps roller passes paper and is less noticeable when you remove the dust wand. It’s a labor intensive job.

Question: Thank you all for your comments but it is only coming from the drum unit itself. When I rig the front door I feel the thumping from the drum unit.

Answer: Just a thought. Have you checked the gear that drives the waste auger on the inside rear of the machine?

Answer: I have had to replace entire cleaning units because of a small idle gear on the back of the cleaner unit. The gears may look fine, but if the pin that the gear sits on is broken, the machine will still work but eventually waste toner. The build up can cause noise and copy quality problems.

Question: Thank you. Now, you are talking about the drum unit, correct?

Answer: Yes, same unit. There’s a really small gear that rides on the plastic pin that is part of the drum/cleaner unit.
 
Subject: Canon IR5000 Drum Removal
Question: How do you disengage the developer unit from the drum so I can remove the drum? I am assuming it is in the service mode somewhere. My machine has spotting and background and most likely needs a cleaning, but I couldn’t get the drum out today.

Answer: Open the door the manual bypass is attached to and unscrew the plate. There is the developer. Unplug the connector on the left of the developer and pull straight out.

Answer: Have you ever taken a process unit out of a 5000? It’s more than just getting the dev unit out. Not hard, just involved, especially if you have never done it before.

Answer: Take your time the first time. It’s very easy to scratch, and they aren’t cheap.

Answer: The most vulnerable point is when you slide the process unit out above the fuser and transport. That is when you can scratch the drum.

Question: Thanks, I know the Silicone drums are BIG $$$. Customer only has 300k on it, so unlikely it is due.

Answer: More likely it needs a drum cleaning blade.

Answer: Be CAREFULLLL!!!!! It’s a $1500 drum. The spots and background may be due to toner buildup in the pre transfer, or else the corona and cleaning unit. It pulls out with a screw and one plug. That’s what I didn’t take out when I scratched one. Have plenty of rest and don’t have any distractions on your mind especially the first time you do it. Otherwise you will regret it. Remove dev unit, charge, and pre transfer and remove drum shaft screw and I think 2 others. Then pull out slowly. The thing slides out on rails. Then lift off to a table covered with a drop cloth. Then you can remove the drum and clean the blade section. Cleaning is usually all it needs, as the drum is rated at 1 or 1.5 million. Best of luck.

Question: Yes, the drum blade is very yellowed, but the pre transfer unit looked almost new, very little toner in it. Taking the dev unit out is very simple, after someone points out how to do it. I removed the transfer/fuser unit before I removed the drum assembly. It wasn’t very dirty, but the wires were dusty. New wires and a general cleaning had it looking great. I appreciate every response.

Answer: Just lay a towel down and cover the fuser and transport area before pulling the drum unit out.

Answer: And when he gets done with all that, he’ll find out that he only needs to replace all the corona wires.
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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