Updated: Jun 4, 2019
Home →HP Printer Parts→HP Printer Fuser Care, Troubleshooting and Cleaning.
What Is a Printer Fuser?
Printer fuser is a component of a laser printer that uses heat and pressure to bond toner to the paper. It is critical to the performance of the printer and requires replacement after a period of pages. It is considered consumable item by most printer manufactures.
Troubleshooting Fuser Problems
How Remove a Paper Jam In The Fuser.
Office end users may yank and pull. The last thing you want to have happen is it to rip leaving paper in the fuser. Loose paper can block paper sensors and cause other problems. The process of removing the paper jammed at the fuser should be slow and deliberate.
Grab the entire width of the paper.
Pull slowly.
An even better option is to check to see the fuser has thumb wheel to rotate the wheel either way to get to remove the paper. Turn the printer off and remove the fuser to access the thumb wheel.
How to Clear Paper Pieces Stuck In The Fuser.
Warning: Never use anything sharp. The fuser film and lower pressure roller are very sensitive and can be damaged easily.
Loose paper must be removed from the paper path assembly as well as the fuser. If a loose piece of paper comes in the path of a sensor the fuser will not power up. Paper will have to be cleared it manually. Remove the fuser and use the thumb wheel to rotate in the opposite direction.
Performing Printer Fuser Half Way
Page Test or Stop Test
One of the most useful troubleshooting techniques is the “halfway test,” also called the “stop test.” It is useful whenever you have an image defect or a paper skewing or wrinkling problem, because it allows you to determine where in the paper path the problem is originating.
Troubleshooting Laser Printer Parts and Techniques With The Halfway Test Or Stop Test
Performing HP Printer Component Tests
HP laser printers have numerous motors and solenoids. When the printer is running it is difficult to isolate the part that is having problems.
To isolate part problems on newer HP laser printers there is a on-board software tool that allows printer technicians to perform a number of diagnostics tests. The component test allow you to run a part individually.
For example lets say you get a printer service call for M605 laser printer making noises. After ruling out the more common problems you make the decision to run an printer component test. Printer component test will allow you to test each motor individually.
In addition the test will allow you to open and close solenoids individually. This will give you the ability to listen and / or watch the solenoid open and close. We have used it to check for solenoid sticking as well.
Approach the HP laser printer control panel and navigate to component test menu.
HP M604 M605 M606 Printer Component Test Menu Navigation Procedure
Isolating Fuser Image Defects
Anyone using a laser printer––whether new or remanufactured––knows that familiar, disappointed feeling of discovering one or multiple image defects on a fresh printout.
Signified by poor quality like flaws, streaks and spots, image defects are caused by numerous external and internal factors.
Some of the most common culprits are faulty toner cartridges, the scanner assembly, controller board, high voltage power supply, fuser, transfer roller/wire and reflective mirrors. Like a team working to sabotage success, these printer parts malfunction to create havoc on the printed page.
Isolating Printer Image Defects And Free Printable Tools
PQ Troubleshooting Pages
For higher end work group HP color laser printers and MFP's there exists a tool inboard the printer that is very useful for isolated image defects. This tool is accessible through the printer control panel in the print utility menu or diagnostics menu.
HP color printers utilize 4 primary colors to create millions of other colors. The PQ troubleshooting page tool allow the device to print the individual colors unmixed as a single layer of that color. This single layer allows HP printer service technicians to determine where the defect is coming from and also rule out other possible causes.
The printer uses all 4 toner carts and all 4 transfer rollers during the PQ test to run 1 color at a time. Telling the printer technician to replace toner cart or the transfer belt
It can also help rule out the fuser as the problem. For example if you run the PQ troubleshooting pages and it only comes out on the cyan then you know its not the fuser. Fuser problems would show up on all 4 colors.
Unfortunately lower end desktop color printers do not have PQ troubleshooting options. For those models we recommend repetitive defect rulers.
Repetitive Defect Rulers
Repetitive Defect Rulers are a great way to identify if the image defect is cause by the fuser or something else entirely. The below charts are used for locating the cause of images, which repeat at equal intervals. These intervals may not appear at the same place on each page.
Once you have located the repeating defects, measure the distance between them. Then locate the number under the corresponding cause. Many defects repeat several times per page. **While the actual magnetic roller circumference is 62.8mm, because of the way it is geared, any defects will likely have an interval of 54mm. Print at full page to achieve ruler accuracy
Top 9 Symptoms Caused By Fuser Problems
Noisy
Error codes
Burning Smell
print defects
lines down the side of the page (rip sleeve)
light print, repetitive defects Worn sleeve
Repetitive defect equally spaced Chuck of rubber comes off Color sleeve
Check page life left in printer
Inspect sleeve and lower pressure roller
Top Causes of Symptoms
Rips Sleeves
worn gears
toner build on entrance guide
wear on sleeve
broken damage parts
entrance guides
delivery roller
delivery guide
paper dust
Key Components That Make Up HP Printer Fusers
Fixing film assembly
Ceramic heating element
Fuser film sleeve
Pressure roller bushings
Lower fuser pressure roller
Fuser film grease
Resitting or Reinstalling fuser - If you encounter a problem after reinstalling or installing a fuser the simple process of re-seating a fuser can correct some problems. It should always should be tried first.
Never remove fuser while power is on. Removing a fuser while the printer is on will almost always damage the fuser heating element or printer logic boards.
Printer Power Voltage Problems
Metrofuser's HP Printer Tech Support department conducted extensive research which revealed power issues to be an integral point of failure. Research compiled from warranty failures, technical support case studies and forensic analysis has revealed power fluctuations to be a major contributor to device failures.
How Our HP Printer Tech Support Utilizes Power Protection to Improve Print Device Reliability
Using Print Samples To Diagnose Problems
This is a useful reference chart of images, showing a picture of each of the most common print defects found in HP laser printers. Use this guide to identify your print defect, and read more about the print defect with potential causes and solutions.
The following chart contains the most common print defects found in HP laser printers. It is not a complete list but should cover 90% or more of the most common image defects.
Visual chart of HP LaserJet print defects
When is it time to replace the fuser
HP Printer Maintenance Kit Page Intervals
Best Selling HP Fusers [Top 19 Picks]
CB506-67901 P4014/P4015/P4515 Fuser
RM1-8395 M600/M601/M602/M603 Fuser
RM1-1082 4250/4240/4350 Fuser
E6B67-67901 M604/M605/M606 Fuser Assembly 110V
RG5-5750 9000/9040/9050/M9059 Fuser
RM1-6274 P3010/P3015 Fuser Assy
RM1-3740 M3027/M3035/P3005 Fuser
CB506-67901 P4014/P4015/P4515 Fuser
40X4418 T650/T652/T654/XS654/XS658 Fuser
RM1-8808 M401/M425 Fuser Assembly
RM1-3131 4700/4730MFP/CP4005 Fuser
RM1-1043 4345/M4345 Fuser
RM1-0013 4200 Anti-Tear Fuser
RM1-6405 P2030/P2035/P2050/P2055 Fuser
RM2-6418 M377/M452/M477 Fuser, Duplex
CC493-67911 CP4025/CP4525/CM4540/M651/M680 Fuser
CF367-67905 M806/M830 Fuser
RM2-5679 M501/M506/M527 Fuser Assy 110 Volt
RM1-2665 2700/3000/3505/3600/3800/CP3505 Fuser
HP Printer Fuser Options
Remaufanufacured Fusers
Pros
TAA Complaint.
Built with OEM chassis perfect fit form and function.
Best Value.
Good quality product will look new.
Cons
Quality of remanufacured fusers varies. You will have to test out fuser parts suppliers.
New OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer Fusers
Pros
Built with OEM chassis, perfect fit form and function.
Cons
Highest Cost $$$
Original equipment manufactures (OEM) do not differentiate between new and remanufactured product. You may be getting remanufactured product at a new price.
New Compatible Fusers
Pros
Moderate in Cost.
Good quality product will look like new.
Cons
Likely not TAA complaint.
Built with aftermarket chassis. Fit form and function must be tested.
Not all new compatible product is quality. You will have to test out fuser parts suppliers.
Can I Install Fusers Myself?
Most fuser and maintenance kits come equipment with easy to read instructions. In addition there are a plethora of "how videos" Watch videos to help you with installation. Good tier 1 parts suppliers have direct phone support to helps as well.
HP Fuser Related Posts
Common HP Printer Fuser Installation Troubleshooting Symptoms and Error Codes
Review of The HP M601 M602 M603 Printer Fuser Maintenance Kit CF064-67901 RM1-8395 CE988-67914.
Will
Will is the Co-Founder and Editor of metrofuser.com. Will helps service organizations increase revenue and reduce call backs. He does this through his companies product placement, training, and advisory services. His work is based on 20+ years of product leadership experience. His company's honors received to-date include 20+ Leadership and Industry Awards.