Laser Printer Smudging

kei2 · 05-03-2004, 12:21 PM

I have a Brother HL-1240 black-and-white laser printer, and lately it's been acting a little funny. You know how sometimes when you photocopy something with the darkness set too high, it has faint gray streaks across the parts that should be white? Lately my printer's been doing that and I was hoping somebody here might know why. Does my toner cartridge need to be replaced? It's still printing dark where it should, but like I said it's like there's a gray smudge across the whole page. Thanks in advance.

ribitch · 05-03-2004, 01:25 PM

there may be excess toner in the paper path. as the paper makes its way through the printer, it will pickup the toner. as it enters teh fuser, it will fuse, and you will have your streaks. make sure you paper path is clear from excess toner. Also make sure your toner cart is in good condition. Low toner can causing lighter streaks.

Worn cleaning rollers, belts, or drums can also cause image defects.

ray · 05-03-2004, 02:43 PM

Ribitch explained it perfectly.

GilbertsGrape · 05-03-2004, 04:10 PM

actualy more than likely the excess toner is on the Drum. i have had this problme with a brother hl series laser printer. i just took the drum out and lifted the cover that covers the drum. if you see that the drum has black toner on it instead od a real pretty green color than that is probably the problem i used some q - tips to wipe off the excess toner on my drum. and used the gears to rotate the drim and wipe the excess toner off all around the drum.

also if that is not the case and the toner rubs off your print outs the fuser may be going bad.

if it is the drum and you cant clean it than i would reocmend buy ing a new QMS 1250 series laser printer they cost about as much as a new drum for that brother printer and have 2x the print speed and 2x the resolution of your brother printer.

kei2 · 05-03-2004, 05:10 PM

K thanks guys (ribitch and Ray for explanations, GilbertsGrape for possible solutions), I really appreciate it. I'll try that stuff when I get home tonight and post an update.

kei2 · 05-03-2004, 07:59 PM

Tried the q-tip to wipe the toner off the drum... couldn't get it perfectly clean (I'd clean it, rotate it, clean the new part, rotate it... and I kept doing that but although I eliminated any really dirty parts, the cleaned parts would pick up some toner by the time I rotated it around). Still getting some smudging, not sure of the cause... might end up changing the toner cartridge and just hope that works.

05-03-2004, 12:21 PM	#1
kei2 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,102	Laser Printer Smudging I have a Brother HL-1240 black-and-white laser printer, and lately it's been acting a little funny. You know how sometimes when you photocopy something with the darkness set too high, it has faint gray streaks across the parts that should be white? Lately my printer's been doing that and I was hoping somebody here might know why. Does my toner cartridge need to be replaced? It's still printing dark where it should, but like I said it's like there's a gray smudge across the whole page. Thanks in advance.

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05-03-2004, 01:25 PM	#2
ribitch Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,672	there may be excess toner in the paper path. as the paper makes its way through the printer, it will pickup the toner. as it enters teh fuser, it will fuse, and you will have your streaks. make sure you paper path is clear from excess toner. Also make sure your toner cart is in good condition. Low toner can causing lighter streaks. Worn cleaning rollers, belts, or drums can also cause image defects.

05-03-2004, 02:43 PM	#3
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	Ribitch explained it perfectly.

05-03-2004, 04:10 PM	#4
GilbertsGrape Captain Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: You can’t get there from here, USA Posts: 1,797	actualy more than likely the excess toner is on the Drum. i have had this problme with a brother hl series laser printer. i just took the drum out and lifted the cover that covers the drum. if you see that the drum has black toner on it instead od a real pretty green color than that is probably the problem i used some q - tips to wipe off the excess toner on my drum. and used the gears to rotate the drim and wipe the excess toner off all around the drum. also if that is not the case and the toner rubs off your print outs the fuser may be going bad. if it is the drum and you cant clean it than i would reocmend buy ing a new QMS 1250 series laser printer they cost about as much as a new drum for that brother printer and have 2x the print speed and 2x the resolution of your brother printer.

05-03-2004, 05:10 PM	#5
kei2 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,102	K thanks guys (ribitch and Ray for explanations, GilbertsGrape for possible solutions), I really appreciate it. I'll try that stuff when I get home tonight and post an update.

05-03-2004, 07:59 PM	#6
kei2 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,102	Tried the q-tip to wipe the toner off the drum... couldn't get it perfectly clean (I'd clean it, rotate it, clean the new part, rotate it... and I kept doing that but although I eliminated any really dirty parts, the cleaned parts would pick up some toner by the time I rotated it around). Still getting some smudging, not sure of the cause... might end up changing the toner cartridge and just hope that works.

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