Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

[tonerhead]

I know these are dirty pigs, however...... I have probably around 20 of these in a hospital setting that I took over last year. Each one runs around 2k-4k/mo. Each one the pcu seems to lay down a lot of toner. I mean blacks are super solid black even after being cleaned with a new pcu. It would be one thing if only 1 did it but they all do. So there is a lot of cleanup and pcu's never go the distance. I'm lucky to get 20k-30k from the pcu's. These machines are eating my lunch with cost per copy. If I could get these to run leaner, I think that would be the ticket. As per manual I always do SP2801 after installing a pcu, but it does not help. My thoughts are what if I raise the VTD (SP2926) from 2.4v to 2.6v instead or should I turn off ID sensor and run with toner sensor voltage only? I am looking for suggestions that have actually worked for making these things run a bit leaner without being washed out for image. BTW it's all oem parts/supplies.

I am looking for solutions that work, not theories, I can theorize on my own. Has anyone found a fix for this? Thanks in advance.

[copier tech]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

I know these are dirty pigs, however...... I have probably around 20 of these in a hospital setting that I took over last year. Each one runs around 2k-4k/mo. Each one the pcu seems to lay down a lot of toner. I mean blacks are super solid black even after being cleaned with a new pcu. It would be one thing if only 1 did it but they all do. So there is a lot of cleanup and pcu's never go the distance. I'm lucky to get 20k-30k from the pcu's. These machines are eating my lunch with cost per copy. If I could get these to run leaner, I think that would be the ticket. As per manual I always do SP2801 after installing a pcu, but it does not help. My thoughts are what if I raise the VTD (SP2926) from 2.4v to 2.6v instead or should I turn off ID sensor and run with toner sensor voltage only? I am looking for suggestions that have actually worked for making these things run a bit leaner without being washed out for image. BTW it's all oem parts/supplies.

I am looking for solutions that work, not theories, I can theorize on my own. Has anyone found a fix for this? Thanks in advance.

I have a load of these in a school we usually get around 40-50k from the PCDU which I'm happy with.

I always keep the firmware up-to-date not sure if that helps with life or not.

[Gift]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

I'm unhappy with that series, too - ricoh came up with this SP edits to improve the lifetime:

SP 2-929-001 >> 2.90 V
SP 2-929-002 >> 1.00 V

And it's important not just to "plug and play" them. After installation you have to run SP 2-801 and check the PM counter afterwards.
If they aren't resetted automatically, you must run SP 7-804-002.

Still you shouldn't expext miracles - we keep the units up to date FW wise, that did not really made a difference.
I think this and other ricoh B&W models really have a quite "narrow" sweet spot in wich conditions they actually perform well (paper quality, monthly volume, pages/job, zodiac signs star positions at midnight....).

Feel free to contact ricoh, I think you'll hear the usual excuses and explanations and at the end of that conversation you might actually are brainwashed and do believe 20k is a good result, due to the "conditions" I've mentioned above. Funny thing is that other brands don't have this kind of major pre-failing issues if their MFPs aren't running 100% according to what the spec-sheet expects.

[Polo-022]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

1. D127-2212 New Type PCU. (First of all)
2. SP2-921-001 set to 1
3. SP2-922-001 set to 0,2
4. SP2-929-001 set to 3V
5. SP2-932-001 set to 2 or 4.
It works : PCU relability, over 40K. prints.
Normal density, clear pages back and front, no background, less paper jams.

[tonerhead]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

On the mp5001's we used to run them a little lean before setting the dev init. I am thinking about trying that with this group also. I am thinking maybe 30 of the crosshatch pattern with toner sucked out of hopper and no toner tube. Then run 2801. Anyone tried this route?

[Polo-022]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

On the mp5001's we used to run them a little lean before setting the dev init. I am thinking about trying that with this group also. I am thinking maybe 30 of the crosshatch pattern with toner sucked out of hopper and no toner tube. Then run 2801. Anyone tried this route?

Yes, it doesn't work.

[KeviM]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

I know these are dirty pigs, however...... I have probably around 20 of these in a hospital setting that I took over last year. Each one runs around 2k-4k/mo. Each one the pcu seems to lay down a lot of toner. I mean blacks are super solid black even after being cleaned with a new pcu. It would be one thing if only 1 did it but they all do. So there is a lot of cleanup and pcu's never go the distance. I'm lucky to get 20k-30k from the pcu's. These machines are eating my lunch with cost per copy. If I could get these to run leaner, I think that would be the ticket. As per manual I always do SP2801 after installing a pcu, but it does not help. My thoughts are what if I raise the VTD (SP2926) from 2.4v to 2.6v instead or should I turn off ID sensor and run with toner sensor voltage only? I am looking for suggestions that have actually worked for making these things run a bit leaner without being washed out for image. BTW it's all oem parts/supplies.

I am looking for solutions that work, not theories, I can theorize on my own. Has anyone found a fix for this? Thanks in advance.

I know exactly the problem you are experiencing and it used to drive me nuts. I used to have brand new PCU units look like they overtoning. This is what I do (some of the other techs have suggested some of these as well)

1) in order for this to work your drum and developer needs to have a reasonable amount of life left in it. I would then say service your machine.
After that enter the service mode and go to SP2220 and make a note of your
VSG, VT, VTref
Your VSG should be around 4 (+/- 0.2)

2) then go to
SP 2926 - you'll need to change this. Each machine seems to be a bit different but generally I find that 2.80 to 3.00 works well. You can play around with the voltages till you get the voltage that works best for you.
3) SP2929 - change the upper limit to 3.20 - 3.50 and your lower limit to 1.20 - 1.40.
4) run SP2214. Developer initial
5) Exit SP mode and make about 5 prints. Now go back into your SP mode and enter SP2220. Check your Vt and Vtref.
If you have kinda overtoned prints but your Vt is still below your Vtref then the system will probably work the overtone out if you run a few copies. I would say about 50 copies should do the job.

Keep working with this till you get the ideal print quality. That's what I did. This machines works well now. You should get over 45k on a PCU.

Remember that your drum and developer needs to have life in it for this to work.

If you still having a problem you can ask me for more information.

All the best friend

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

I know exactly the problem you are experiencing and it used to drive me nuts. I used to have brand new PCU units look like they overtoning. This is what I do (some of the other techs have suggested some of these as well)

1) in order for this to work your drum and developer needs to have a reasonable amount of life left in it. I would then say service your machine.
After that enter the service mode and go to SP2220 and make a note of your
VSG, VT, VTref
Your VSG should be around 4 (+/- 0.2)

2) then go to
SP 2926 - you'll need to change this. Each machine seems to be a bit different but generally I find that 2.80 to 3.00 works well. You can play around with the voltages till you get the voltage that works best for you.
3) SP2929 - change the upper limit to 3.20 - 3.50 and your lower limit to 1.20 - 1.40.
4) run SP2214. Developer initial
5) Exit SP mode and make about 5 prints. Now go back into your SP mode and enter SP2220. Check your Vt and Vtref.
If you have kinda overtoned prints but your Vt is still below your Vtref then the system will probably work the overtone out if you run a few copies. I would say about 50 copies should do the job.

Keep working with this till you get the ideal print quality. That's what I did. This machines works well now. You should get over 45k on a PCU.

Remember that your drum and developer needs to have life in it for this to work.

If you still having a problem you can ask me for more information.

All the best friend

I like to run copies of the Checkered Flag test pattern.

[KeviM]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

I like to run copies of the Checkered Flag test pattern.

Excellent suggestion slimslob. I need to remember that 1 for myself as well

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

Excellent suggestion slimslob. I need to remember that 1 for myself as well

A regional rep showed it to me years ago. Gives you 50% coverage and allows you to spot check to see how the toner level is reacting.

[Gift]

Re: Ricoh MP 301 overtoned

1. D127-2212 New Type PCU. (First of all)
2. SP2-921-001 set to 1
3. SP2-922-001 set to 0,2
4. SP2-929-001 set to 3V
5. SP2-932-001 set to 2 or 4.
It works : PCU relability, over 40K. prints.
Normal density, clear pages back and front, no background, less paper jams.

THanks, I'll try that combo, too - is that based of your experience or from a bulletin?