Home »
A printer fuser is an essential component of many printers and consists of two heated rollers that press toner onto the page.
When these rollers become faulty or damaged, your printer may experience issues with print quality, jams, loose toner powder, and other errors.
This can be frustrating for anyone who depends on their printer. To avoid any disruption to business operations, it’s essential to be aware of the most common printer fuser unit problems and keep spare parts on hand to resolve them quickly.
ABC Computer Services are the experts in keeping your printer equipment, including fusers, in top shape or repaired quickly if needed!
The fuser, a component of laser printers that seals toner and paper through heat application and pressure, must be serviced or replaced every 75,000 – 300,000 printed pages depending on the manufacturer and model and how often you perform printer maintenance with some of our tips.
Although each device is unique in design and operation, there are four common symptoms and warning signs to look out for when determining whether your machine’s fuser needs attention.
Read on for the 4 Top Symptoms of bad fusers:
Humming Printer Noise
As the drive gear wears out, you’ll hear a low hum or drone before it finally gives way to the grind. Take heed of this warning sign. Remember: The hum comes before the grind!
Grinding Printer Noise
The issue’s source may be the printer’s swing plate, main drive assembly, or the fuser assembly.
No matter which one is at fault, they both ought to be changed as soon as possible; once either has been compromised, it can cause damage to the other parts too. Thus, replacing them together is recommended to get optimal performance out of your machine.
Chirp or Squeaking Printer Noise
If a shaft or roller inside the printer’s fuser wears down, or is in an aged and compromised bushing, it can create an audible rattling noise when spinning. This sound can also come from printer delivery rollers located within the fuser.
Fusers with lower-quality bushings are especially prone to wearing down more quickly in essential sections. Older laser printers used hot rollers instead of film sleeves and were particularly vulnerable to this issue.
While various factors may lead to image defects, the two most common symptoms frequently are fuser-related and are often found in office laser printers.
If you notice faint gray (not black) striations along the page, it could signify that your fuser film sleeve is worn or damaged. Wear on the fuser film can cause ghosting or repeated images to appear.
If toner is smudging on your printouts, it may be due to the temperature settings of your printer not being suitable for the paper you are using. To solve this issue, adjust the fuser setting and ensure that it aligns with both weight and features of the paper. If all else fails, consider changing out your current fuser. Low-grade toner with a variable melting point can cause pages to smudge, ruining printouts.
The fuser is the root cause of these paper jam issues.
Replacing it should rectify any problems with paper jams you may be having with your printer!
Ripped or worn fuser film sleeve.
Beaten or damaged fuser sensor markers.
Broken or worn fuser gears.
Dilapidated or frayed lower-pressure rollers.
A moment before the paper reaches the fuser.
Halfway through the fuser.
Just as the paper emerges from the fuser exit.
When the machine displays an error code, or you see its components wear down, it is time to replace your fuser.
This could be due to its natural lifespan ending or its parts’ deterioration over the expected time frame.
Therefore, if you experience any of these issues with your fuser, you must take action and get a replacement as soon as possible.
The HP Laser Printer Error 50.2 is an issue many encounter in their printing experience. This arises because the printer’s thermistors often cannot read the fuser temperature accurately within a reasonable time frame.
In addition, it could signify that either a component of your printer’s engine control board or its fuser has broken down and requires repairs or replacements.
If you experience Fuser error 50.3 on your machine, the fuser has likely overheated, a common issue of using thick paper for extended and prolonged printing session or sessions back to back.
The toner must be heated at a higher temperature to bond with heavier paper. If left running over an extended or prolonged period, with no breaks or rest periods, it can become too hot and trigger the warning code mentioned above.
If this error appears, replace the fuser to address it.
If you get a 50.5 or 13.20 error message, the fuser isn’t suitable for your printer brand. In other words, the wrong type of fuser has been installed.
This error indicates that the AC responsible for heating the fuser temperature control unit has failed to establish a closed circuit. The malfunction could transpire inside the fuser or be disrupted due to power supply complications.
Like the fuser warm-up service error, a pressure release mechanism fails due to insufficient power supply.
If other appliances share the same circuit with your printer, it can cause malfunction and result in you receiving a 50.7 error message.
To reduce or overcome fuser errors, it’s vital to take a comprehensive approach rather than focusing on individual errors. Utilize the following solutions for maximum success:
If the power generating source for your printer does not meet its specified requirement, this could lead to an error.
To ensure optimal ink performance, confirm you have the correct fuser for your printer and voltage standards before installation.
A case in point, HP printers 4240, 4250, 4350, and M4345 models all use similar-looking fusers that fit into their slots but may not heat up properly, resulting in poor print quality and a 50.2 error code.
When an error code 50.2 or 50.3 appears on your printer, the best solution is to unplug it for 20-30 minutes and then turn it back on again. This simple step has helped countless users resolve their issues quickly and effectively.
Ensure that your machine is well-ventilated to avoid fuser error 50.3. Leave at least three to four inches of space around all sides of the device for effective cooling. By ventilating your printer, you and company can ensure it runs efficiently and accurately!
Splitting your heavy print volume into chunks allows the fuser time to cool down. As mentioned above, breaking projects into multiple parts helps mitigate 50.3 Fuser Errors.
If you have a business class printer and are still having a fuser printer problem, contact ABC Computer Services today for a free assessment.