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Laser Printer Problem

 

I don’t print a lot. But this may give a clue.

Years ago, I bought an Apple LaserWriter, private label early HP. It was a high mileage printer with a inventory sticker from a well known business.

When the toner cartridge needed replacing I found a toner refill kit. Not only did it have instructions on how to add toner, but it had instructions on how to empty the waste toner.

In the process of printing, some of the toner is change do it can’t be used again and moved into the waste compartment. The waste compartment should be large enough, but the waste path may become clogged.

Brent

On my iPhone Xr

On Apr 26, 2025, at 23:25, Randy B. Singer via groups.io <randy@...> wrote:

?

On Apr 26, 2025, at 7:01 AM, jimrobertson via groups.io <jimrobertson@...> wrote:

I’ll report back once the imaging drum arrives and I’ve had time to insert it…

I should point out that whenever I’ve encountered a laser printer that needed a new imaging drum, in many cases I’ve found that printing still wasn’t perfect after replacing it. But things were perfect after replacing the toner cartridge also.

In most cases a toner cartridge is reasonably enough priced that if I’m going to be replacing the imaging drum, I just replace the toner cartridge too.

Compatible Brother TN850 Toner High Yield Cartridge
$22



__________________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice

__________________________________________________
 

On Apr 26, 2025, at 7:01 AM, jimrobertson via groups.io <jimrobertson@...> wrote:

I’ll report back once the imaging drum arrives and I’ve had time to insert it…

I should point out that whenever I’ve encountered a laser printer that needed a new imaging drum, in many cases I’ve found that printing still wasn’t perfect after replacing it. But things were perfect after replacing the toner cartridge also.

In most cases a toner cartridge is reasonably enough priced that if I’m going to be replacing the imaging drum, I just replace the toner cartridge too.

Compatible Brother TN850 Toner High Yield Cartridge
$22



__________________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice

__________________________________________________
 

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?On Apr 26, 2025, at 3:20?AM, Randy B. Singer via groups.io <randy@...> wrote:

Here are instructions for changing the drum (be sure to reset the counter too):

Thanks so much. I think I also have a fuser unit, but the status report says it’s far from EOL. I guess I’ll leave it in place.

I’ll report back once the imaging drum arrives and I’ve had time to insert it…

--?
Jim Robertson

I’ve had an HP toner go out long before it should have, so I would agree with replacing the drum or toner first.

If that doesn’t work, I did see a video about a similar issue with faded printing, etc. It involves taking it apart though, so I would consider this a last resort. If your symptoms don’t match this link, I wouldn’t do it.?

Good luck,
Jackie K

 

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On Apr 26, 2025, at 3:20?AM, Randy B. Singer via groups.io <randy@...> wrote:

Here are instructions for changing the drum (be sure to reset the counter too):

Thanks so much. I think I also have a fuser unit, but the status report says it’s far from EOL. I guess I’ll leave it in place.

I’ll report back once the imaging drum arrives and I’ve had time to insert it…

--?
Jim Robertson

 

On Apr 25, 2025, at 5:10 PM, jimrobertson via groups.io <jimrobertson@...> wrote:

I have a Brother HL-L5200 DW Laser Printer that I purchased in late 2017. Recently, it’s done a VERY poor job printing on envelopes (the output is grey, not black, and easily smudged on envelopes, sometimes to the point that the post office rejects envelopes printed with it. Its status printout says that the Toner Cartridge has around 40% of its life remaining, and the Fuser Unit >>90%. I’ve printed 6662 pages, only 140 of them from the multipurpose tray (principally the envelopes). The status also says the “average coverage” is only 5.06%.

I have no idea what to do to improve its printing. I’ve never replaced the Fuser Unit, but the self-diagnostics page printout seems to say it’s fine. Randy, since you are SO familiar with Brother printers I’m hoping you might have some suggestions.

What you are describing sounds typical of an imaging drum that is end-of-life. It’s easy to replace.

Compatible Brother DR820 Laser Drum Unit
$25


Here are instructions for changing the drum (be sure to reset the counter too):


While you are in there, I highly recommend that you do this too.
- Remove the toner cartridge
- Shake it semi-vigorously from side to side (NOT up and down!)
- Drop it a foot or so, perfectly horizontally on a countertop so that it makes a light thump
- Re-install

This will distribute the remaining toner in the cartridge and get it to the bottom of the cartridge. Doing this might actually get you a few hundred extra pages of life from the cartridge.


__________________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice

__________________________________________________

 

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I have a Brother HL-L5200 DW Laser Printer that I purchased in late 2017. Recently, it’s done a VERY poor job printing on envelopes (the output is grey, not black, and easily smudged on envelopes, sometimes to the point that the post office rejects envelopes printed with it. Its status printout says that the Toner Cartridge has around 40% of its life remaining, and the Fuser Unit >>90%. I’ve printed 6662 pages, only 140 of them from the multipurpose tray (principally the envelopes). The status also says the ?“average coverage” is only 5.06%.

I have no idea what to do to improve its printing. I’ve never replaced the Fuser Unit, but the self-diagnostics page printout seems to say it’s fine. Randy, since you are SO familiar with Brother printers I’m hoping you might have some suggestions.

Thanks so much,
--?
Jim Robertson

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