Toner or Printer Problem?

[Raven]

Not sure if this is toner cartridge issue or my printer.

I've been using my first printer, Apple Laserwriter Select 360, since day one in 1995. It's been a work horse and quality and output has been excellent. I used to buy Apple toner cartridges from a Canadian supplier who stopped supplying these a few years ago. Now one can find generic ones on eBay for $70 US. Obviously there still is a market for this printer, otherwise they wouldn't be offered.

 I use one up every 6 months or so. But the last 3 have given me problems... I get grey streaks along the edge(s). Starts out as 1/8" wide and then with time gets wider. At which point I have to stop using the cartridge. Not good for correspondance, proofs, and invoices! In the first two cases the supplier took them back and refunded me. Although the process is a pain.

My newest one gives me a 1/8" wide vertical grey streak in the middle of every sheet. I can see that when I lift the cover on the drum. Is there some way to wipe/clean the drum of this streak without wrecking it? I've taken the drum out and gently shaken it, but makes no difference.

Could I have received 3 cartridges in a row from 3 different suppliers that all do this? The boxes state "Premium Compatible Cartridges" etc.
Or is this an old age printer problem?
I'm trying to find Apple brand cartridges out there somewhere to do a final test.

Suggestions, please! :-)

[dboh]

I've been using my HP 4MP since 1996 with no problems. Sometimes I do get vertical lines, but it's always been because I had seated the cartridge incorrectly. It seems to feel like it's not sliding into position as smoothly as it used to in its younger days. Taking the cartridge out and putting it back in always works for me. Have you checked to make sure it's not something like that?

[Paddy]

Raven, you might want to read through this thread - there are a few references to streaks/blobs etc.:

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/laser/22667

My guess is that it isn't the toner cartridge, but something in the printer itself.

I think there is a video at fixyourownprinter that shows disassembly - but I also saw a note that it isn't a recommended activity for anyone but a trained tech. Depending on how much time and energy you want to put into this, you might be able to fix it yourself. Otherwise, it may be time for a new laser printer, which will be cheaper than paying someone to fix it. The upside is that a new printer will be way faster and you will be able to find cartridges easily. I've had good luck with an HP laser printer as have others here.

[Xairbusdriver]

Not sure what the link might say but it sounds like the heated drum is not getting cleaned well before it gets in contact with the paper. Whether that's the fault of the cart or the printer design is almost irrelevant. I suspect it is the printer, I very much doubt that three different suppliers (assuming they actually are) would send three bad carts (unless they all got the same output from the same factory at about the same day of manufacture). Sometimes different interweb 'companies' are actually one company with multiple web sites. In that case, you very well could get several bad carts in a row until they worked through that inventory.

I really think it's best to follow Paddy's advice. Your printer could stop completely any day now. The newer ones are amazingly cheap and fast! Of course, I doubt if they are built as well/strongly as yours. Now, almost the only metal in them is in the wiring!

[Jack W]

Raven,

You can buy a brand spanking new HP LaserJet 1006 (I think that's the number) printer these days for around $100 at either Office Max or Staples.

I reckon it probably has a skimpy toner cartridge in it for that price, so if you buy one, you may also want to purchse a new cartridge for it (HP of course).

I find that Amazon.com sells HP OE carts at reasonable price, and shipping is free.

I have had tremendous luck with HP LaserJet printers. I have had a 4MP (gift from friend), a 5MP which I purchased several years before the 4MP was given to me.

Then I purchased a LaserJet 1320 because it provided duplex printing, which I wanted because I was starting to print a lot of multi-page docs.

- Jack

[Mayo]

When the toner cart began going south in my LaserWriter 360 (also purchased new in 1995 for $1350!) it began exhibiting the symptoms that you describe. But it does seem strange that three carts would be defective... on the other hand, two carts were accepted as returns. If you are interested in trying another supplier I will take the time to find the company I used; the "generic" toner cart has been trouble-free for me.

You could also post a query at FixYourOwnPrinter and see what responses you get; the forum is an active one.

[Paddy]

Just a general FYI - Raven, like me, lives in Canada. Unfortunately for us, the full scope of the wonders of Amazon.com are not available to us - nor are many US online retailers, and if they are, you often run into brokerage and shipping charges etc. from the likes of UPS that would make your jaw drop. We can order books, music and video from Amazon.com - but that's all. Amazon.ca is pathetic by comparison - it has books, music, video and some software, electronics and computer gear (and they're not terrible competitive on price for that, either). We do have tigerdirect.ca as well as a number of good online retailers like bestdirect.ca, ncix.com and canadacomputers.com. Newegg has newegg.ca but ships from California, so shipping costs tend to put them out of the competition with the retailers based in Canada.

[Raven]

Tried pushing a sheet around the roller. Didn't go all the way around.
The paper did pick up some toner, but made no difference on the streak.

However, over the past few days, the streak is slowly disappearing!
Maybe something did happen.
I've printed about 200 sheets on this cartridge.
:-)

[RHPConsult]

I'll hazard the guess that it's probably both the toner and the printer.

Toner from those off-brands, in my experience, is not a prudent option. A false economy, IMO, as gleaned from several vexing disappointments. I don't care about others' favorable experiences, there ain't nuthin' like OEM toner for the best results in a given printer, and especially in an HP.

My HP 4MV finally succumbed last winter after (at least) 17 years and many bundreds of thousands of copies (2 offices have graced this household at one time, one still does). I hated to replace such a workhorse, but doing so was a revelation.  They don't make them like they used to. They make them better.

We are delighted with the quality, characteristics and even the price of its replacement. It's an HP tabloid printer and its a jewel . . . HP knows its business.

Of course I remember my first dot-matrix AppleWriter printer, including every pound of its iron frame!. I'll bet it's still chugging along somewhere, like some of the DC-3s that are still flying in the jungles of the world. It just that I wouldn't want to be "using" it, or them, these days.

[Mayo]

QUOTE

there ain't nuthin' like OEM toner for the best results in a given printer

The problem is that there are no OEM toner carts available for the LaserWriter 360; Apple quit making them over two years ago. Any OEM carts that may turn up on eBay are probably going to be past their "pull date."

I did some research and in April 2007 purchased a compatible cart from ABCInk. It has worked flawlessly; unfortunately, I do not find it listed on the Web site. All I can find is toner refill kits.  I have sent ABCInk an e-mail to see if the cart is still available. There are probably other companies out there where compatible carts can be found.