Subject: Minolta DI3510F Washed Out Copies
Question: I am having a problem with 3510 and 2510 with the copies looking light. I have had this for about a year off and on. After installing a new starter, drum unit and doing the setup the copies are great but after 10K the copies are light. I have changed out the transfer roller, HV unit, “A” control board, and cleaned all copper point connectors. Machine is adding toner and the toner BT is turning. The only way to get the copy back is to change the starter and run the setup and it’s great. This is not just one machine doing this; it’s maybe 6 to 10 machines. This turned into a really bad pain in the rear. Thanks for any ideas.
Answer: Are you using OEM toner? The developer is set up with Minolta developer. The ADHD sets about 145 or so. You have changed and checked everything by the sound of it.
Question: All of the machines are using OEM toner. This all started back in January of this year. I first was thinking I had bad starter or toner. Not now. Thanks for the reply.
Answer: I take it you are clearing the drum counters before the F8 setup. When you say drum unit, is that the whole upper half or just the drum? And have you changed the developer units and not just the starter?
Question: I cleared the counter, new DV unit and starter, new PC drum assembly, and ran the F8 setup. After setup, the copies are great. I also changed out the toner hopper. I’m running out of things to change out. I keep thinking, “What am I doing that could do this?” I have serviced copiers for over 35 years and this one is going to make me retire. Thanks again.
Answer: I work on several Sharps where this is common. Your box toner/paper dust coming off the drum goes right back into the DV unit. Is the brand of paper common on all machines? Just thinking out loud; paper dust, believe it or not, will get ya!
Question: Thanks, but no common paper.
Answer: I have lots of these machines out there and had many where the hole on the toner bottle doesn’t open when the tab is pulled off. I had a couple of bad toner drive assemblies go bad, as well as a couple of toner LD sensors.
Question: I had the BT seal not come off, toner assembly problems, and ADTC go out, but all this looks like it is working. BT is turning and it is adding toner to the DV unit. Maybe I do not understand how the toner system works. I was thinking that the ADTC sensor shut down the machine when the toner to starter ratio was too low on the toner, or is it the hopper? Why are so many machines having the same problem, is what I do not understand? Is this an age of machines?
Answer: We only had the problem with the bottom seal with Chinese aftermarket toner..
Answer: Have you cleaned optics and printhead? Both will cause light copies if they are dirty. Check the T/C ratio and see if it is getting lower or staying the same.
Answer: I know the DI2010~3510 toner with double globe logo on the bottle was causing poor solids—grey, washed out. I returned 30 bottles to AC* 2 years ago. I’ve had the same symptom with Bizhub 200 series lately. Some OEM toner, some use two different compatible toners. Lately the symptom seems more frequent. I was doing everything you mentioned, but I was able to improve the print quality somewhat with setting the grid voltage to -2, density to +3, user setting print density to +3. These 3 only barely improve solids, but you can increase the ADTC by no more than 4 or 5, like 145 to 149, then run toner replenish cycle to stir, 50 copies and toner replenish cycle twice again. Then increase ADTC again like to 153, rinse, repeat, ADTC to 157. I started to see better solids, but it’s still not overtoning. Never as good as fresh DV though. I’m starting to think toner sensors are cheap quality?
Question: Thanks. Sounds like you have the same problem. I was able to get the copies somewhat dark by making the adjustments. I have OEM toner installed.
Answer: The older DI200/251/351 mag rollers are the same, or so we think. I have used one in a BH200, ran F8, gives usual numbers in 140~160 range and test copy quality is same/great. We need mag rollers when the shaft gets eaten up so that we can’t use the upgrade collars. Is it possible that the mag roller surface is wearing? Need to see if these are washing out with virgin or once-only rebuilt DV units. So far increasing ADTC slowly as described above has caused no C2557 codes and no overtoning, getting us down the road further.
Question: I have installed a new DV box, starter and PC Drum unit and transfer roll and after F8 setup all numbers are alright. At this time machines are ok, but not what I like to see. This is so strange that after all the years the machines have been out in the field. Aging out? Thanks again.
Answer: When these models come to end of parts support life, the DV units may be the death of the series. I’ll probably buy as many OEM DV units as I can afford.
