Will these marks be corrected using fresh toner and a drum?
Will these marks be corrected using fresh toner and a drum?
Hello, I own a Brother HL-5250 DN printer (an older model, around 15 years). It has always functioned perfectly, never facing any issues. Although it's not used much these days, when I do print, the pages come out with dots or streaks. Please check the attached photos – the second one shows the marks even when trying to pass through a blank sheet.
https://imgur.com/a/HhjkTIu
https://imgur.com/a/GxSsYRy
Previously, I didn’t notice anything unusual because my prints weren’t critical. Now, I need a clean page. I thought maybe the toner and drum needed replacing, but the toner light isn’t working and the text still prints without fading, so I assumed it was just dirty. I moved the drum back and forth on the cleaning slider several times as instructed, but that didn’t help either. I cleaned the actual drum with isopropyl and removed any loose toner, but the problem persisted.
Additionally, the printer’s settings page shows Total Pages Printed at 3062 and Drum usage at 84.5%. I’m pretty sure both the toner and drum are the originals since I haven’t changed them before.
Does anyone think replacing the toner cartridge and drum would fix this? I’m okay with buying new ones, but I don’t want to spend around $60 just to find out it’s something else. Otherwise, I’d end up needing a new printer, and that money would have been wasted on toner and drum. Thanks!
This issue is unlikely to stem from the toner cartridge itself. It’s more probable caused by dust buildup in various areas such as rollers or the paper path, OR minor flaws on the special drum. Examine the "dirty" blank sheets produced during several attempts. If the dots consistently align in identical spots and arrangements, those represent defective areas on the drum. In such instances, replacing the drum unit might resolve the problem. However, if the patterns differ between prints, it suggests random dirt settling unevenly during each pass. Your printer’s manual doesn’t advise attempting to clear such scattered debris, as doing so could risk damaging components while navigating tight spaces. This approach can be challenging due to limited access and the need to remove multiple outer panels.
One small suggestion I’d like to share is this: if the issue stems from intermittent electrical contact failures, consider a gentle cleaning method. Handle the process with extreme care to prevent damage. Remove the drum unit and avoid touching its exposed electrical contacts—your manual warns against this to preserve their integrity. You might gently remove any visible dirt or oxidation using a clean, soft eraser. Then, use a cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol to lightly clean the contacts. Repeat this on matching contacts inside the printer housing. Ensure everything is fully dry before reinstalling. This could potentially resolve the problem.
Thanks for the guidance. I'm trying to compare multiple pages and it's tough to tell if they're exactly the same. The horizontal bands look consistent in width and spacing across the pages—possibly created by the drum's roller. I was hoping for a clear confirmation (like confirming it's definitely toner or drum), but since the total pages printed are nearing the expected toner capacity, I might decide to purchase a new toner first and then consider a drum replacement. I'll let you know once I've tested it.