hp 4345mfp fuzzy image

[mdm]

Hi I replace two maintenance kits in two 4345mfp that both had bad fusers and the maitenance counter indicating that maintenace would need to done soon. After replacing the kits, every thing wokred fine, until about 42000 prints/copies later, now we are seeing fuzzy prints that are not sharp. on photo ids you can not see the individual. I cleaned the fuser with WD-40 and the image are now sharp and back to normal. but just after one week the image are fuzzy again. These are all new fusers and I think hp kits.

Any help and advise would be appreciated.

MDM

[Big Al]

It sounds like something is contaminating the fuser rollers. First guess would be the grease used in the teflon sleeve around the heater may be the wrong kind. Hard to imagine where else it might be coming from. Try to find out where the kits came from and talk to those people. I would recommend alcohol or a product called OOPS, available where paint is sold, to clean the rollers. WD-40 is mostly kerosene and might contribute to the problem. Any chance someone is running some strange media through the printer? Are you using HP toner? Please let us know what you find!

Al

[cs_steve]

If you can post a sample image, that would help as well ...

[mdm]

Thanks Al , I am having the problem on two printers at different location and I get the genuine hp cartridge message when powered on. I tried cleaning with alcohol and silicon oil but got the same result. how would you clean the fuser assemly? I tried taking it apart, but did not want to damage the plastic parts. I will ask about where the kits where purchased and will I try to find the oop to try cleaning.

Thanks.

I will also scan print outs.

[mdm]

hi super moderator,

I tried to upload a copy of what the machine is doing but the limit is too low I tried zip it and still was not able to upload. Can I email it to or is there another option?

Thanks

[redcow]

Why don't you try the 1/2 test. Put paper in the manual feed tray and print 4 copies. As the first page gets a little more than halfway into the printer, open the door(where the cartridge is). Pull out the cartridge and look at the paper below. If it looks all fuzzy change the toner. If it looks good, change the fuser

[mdm]

Thanks Red Cow, I think the fuser seems to be the fault eventhough I replace it with a maintenance kit about 42000 copies/prints ago.

To update the status of this problem, I found article by hp that I did and monitoring.

[nivek]

Ive been having alot of problems with these. I think the third party companys should be monitoring the condition of the heating elements. After a period of time the elements get scratches in them and frankly look like crap. I've taken a few apart like the poster around 50,000 copies and the elements are extremly worn. It seems companies to save a few dollars just put new sleeves on them lubicate and send them back out. The grease builds up around the front of the heating element and the scratches and cuase it not to rotate properly.