How high is a too high printer page count?

[steppinthrax]

I'm looking at this HP 4050tn http://baltimore.craigslist.org/sys/2206979771.html. It's got a 200K print count, is this too high. I"m looking for residential use. What is considered high?

 

[Viper GTS]

220K is not particularly high for one of those. The one thing I would really want to know is whether the maintenance was done. The maintenance interval on those is 200K pages, & it's a fairly expensive service (several hundred $). That's a fuser, transfer roller, and pickup/feed/separation rollers (or pads). Keep in mind that the maintenance kit status can be reset without actually doing the parts, so a low count since maintenance is not necessarily an indication that it was actually done.

At 220K I'd be worried that somebody's 10 year old printer hit the maintenance interval and they decided to go buy a $300 laser printer rather than put a maintenance kit in it.

$100 is a nice price though, I'd be seriously tempted. They are workhorse printers - absolute overkill for home use which is precisely why I'd want one. I'm running a 4+ right now that I picked up for $40 a couple years back. The 4000/4050/4100 series was the successor in that line.

Viper GTS

 

[steppinthrax]

220K is not particularly high for one of those. The one thing I would really want to know is whether the maintenance was done. The maintenance interval on those is 200K pages, & it's a fairly expensive service (several hundred $). That's a fuser, transfer roller, and pickup/feed/separation rollers (or pads). Keep in mind that the maintenance kit status can be reset without actually doing the parts, so a low count since maintenance is not necessarily an indication that it was actually done.

At 220K I'd be worried that somebody's 10 year old printer hit the maintenance interval and they decided to go buy a $300 laser printer rather than put a maintenance kit in it.

$100 is a nice price though, I'd be seriously tempted. They are workhorse printers - absolute overkill for home use which is precisely why I'd want one. I'm running a 4+ right now that I picked up for $40 a couple years back. The 4000/4050/4100 series was the successor in that line.

Viper GTS

I saw the maintendence kit online, it indicates that once the kit has been installed you can reset the page count???? The kit is 200 bucks???

 

[Viper GTS]

Yes the page count can be reset with or without actually installing the kit. The printer flashes a warning on its display when it needs the kit, but it's a fairly simple process to just clear it and take your chances without actually installing the kit. In short you have no idea about the age of the consumables if you didn't do it yourself.

I haven't priced the kits recently but IIRC they were close to $300 back in ~2003 or 2004. 3rd party kits should be cheaper of course.

Viper GTS

 

[steppinthrax]

Yes the page count can be reset with or without actually installing the kit. The printer flashes a warning on its display when it needs the kit, but it's a fairly simple process to just clear it and take your chances without actually installing the kit. In short you have no idea about the age of the consumables if you didn't do it yourself.

I haven't priced the kits recently but IIRC they were close to $300 back in ~2003 or 2004. 3rd party kits should be cheaper of course.

Viper GTS

So does a new kit mean "new printer". Is it like replacing the engine and transmission in a car with 200K miles? Hence "kind of" new vehicle?

 

[alkemyst]

I support over 50 HP laserjets. We have retired our 4050's fully. I deploy 4100's when I have nothing else. I have begun buying the current models, a 4015 was the latest addition.

The older HP's (even the 4200's) are having issues printing newer PDF's. The 4200's are flashable. The 4100's and prior you have to buy the firmware on ROM. The biggest problem I have found is no one that carries the 4050/4100 ones know really if it's the last version or not. Even then chances are some PDF's will not print right.

There are refurbed kits that I use sometimes...I buy the HP version for about $215 for the 4100 from my VAR, should be nearly the same for the 4050, they are a good value and I have not had problems with them. Most of the time the end user jacks up the fuser by trying to clear a jam themselves.

Even a million pages is probably a 'young' life for these if not abused. There are two pads that you don't get with the standard maintenance kits that need replacing around 500k to 1 million pages. In California where ozone is high, probably sooner.

Also the network cards are susceptible to surges and die. Most are interchangeable and the older ones can be found for $60-70 vs the $300+ of the newer ones.

 

[alkemyst]

So does a new kit mean "new printer". Is it like replacing the engine and transmission in a car with 200K miles? Hence "kind of" new vehicle?

The maintenance kit replaces the fuser and main rollers. These are the normal wear/tear items over the 200k or so interval.

The gears, doors, guides, etc are not included and each has there own maintenance intervals. On our 4250s, there is a fuser gear that self-destructs when an end user doesn't shut the rear paper door fully (why they open it I don't know). It's a cheap fix and not so labor intensive if you know the trick.

There are also secondary rollers and separation pads that are subject to deterioration based more on environment and location. In my service over 6 years I have only had to replace one set of separator pads. Most clean up nice with some alcohol. The secondary rollers I have never had to bother with.

I am in S. Florida though, I am sure in Cali with their ozone I'd have seen more by now.

 

[alkemyst]

also the maintenance kit message should not hamper printing in any way. Other errors will stop printing until "ok'd" at the panel, the maint. kit one does not.

I have had a printer hitting 100k past maintenance prior to someone letting me know.