NeXT Laser Printer Woes

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Hi,

I've bought a Colorstation together with a NeXT laser printer, which
doesn't work. The symptom is as follows: The printer powers on OK.
When I try to print a page, (sometimes) it sounds like it wants to
start its transport motor, but then nothing happens. It doesn't even
begin to pull in a sheet. The printer manager says nothing at all
about this, it just sits there and claims it's printing. "Sometimes"
means that often trying to print doesn't evoke an audible response
from the printer at all.

The machine will report if the printer cover is open, or the paper
tray is removed, so I know communication works. To me, it sounds like
the transport motor is broken or has no power. But since I'm no expert
in hardware issues, I thought I'd ask first if this is a known
problem, before I completely take the printer apart.

Thanks in advance,
Björn

[Magic User]

On 22 Nov 2003 07:41:41 -0800, bjoern@giesler.de (Bj?rn Giesler) wrote:
Hi,I've bought a Colorstation together with a NeXT laser printer, whichdoesn't work. The symptom is as follows: The printer powers on OK.When I try to print a page, (sometimes) it sounds like it wants tostart its transport motor, but then nothing happens. It doesn't evenbegin to pull in a sheet. The printer manager says nothing at allabout this, it just sits there and claims it's printing. "Sometimes"means that often trying to print doesn't evoke an audible responsefrom the printer at all.The machine will report if the printer cover is open, or the papertray is removed, so I know communication works. To me, it sounds likethe transport motor is broken or has no power. But since I'm no expertin hardware issues, I thought I'd ask first if this is a knownproblem, before I completely take the printer apart.Thanks in advance,Björn

Paper feed problems are very common with this type of printer when they
get old. Chances are the feed roller and seperation pad are worn and simply
not picking up the paper. The NeXT printer uses the same engine as the
HP LaserJet II series. I suspect you can buy the feed replacement kit
(The feed roller and seperation pad) from any HP dealer and fix this yourself
for about $30. I have the same NeXT printer and problem. I just haven't got
around to verifing this yet.

You should check to see if there is a black smudge at in the center of
the leading paper edge of the paper. This would indicate the roller is dirty.
You can also try coveringr the seperate pad with a piece of masking tape and
the printer may start working better and would verify this is the problem.
Also, you need to make sure the feed roller is very clean and free of any skin
oil. HP has some special notes on what to use to clean the roller (I can't
remember of hand).

If the feed roller and seperation pad are not the culprit then I would start
looking elsewhere like feed drive motor assembly. I don't have a service
manual specific to the NeXT printer but the combined HP LJ II/III manual
should work almost as well since they both use the same engine. The manual
is posted quite often in alt.binaries.e-book.technical.

Hope this helps.

Magic