Laser printer image ghosting

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating images
on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet that
was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating images
on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet that
was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

This may be helpful:

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/laser/36716

My experience is that low-end LaserJets are not great. The 1300 seems
to share the LJ 1200's tendency to skew the image on the paper. The
1300 fuser seems to be a common problem.

I advise people to buy used business-class LaserJets instead of new
low-end lasers. Much better quality, cheaper to run, and cost less.

--
Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA

On 5-Jul-2007, Geri wrote:

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP?

Seems to be a common problem with many laser printers.
Cartridges contain a scavenger blade which removes
undeposited toner from the drum ready to take the next
image. If it doesn't remove the surplus toner it goes
round again resulting in a ghost image, or grey streaks
down the page.
It may be that with old stock, the blade loses plasticisers,
and becomes less flexible, or just wears with use.
Cure replace the cartridge.
My authentic HP cartridges come with a lifetime warrantee,
I've had them replaced under warrantee, but it's a pain in
the butt to get HP to replace them.
You are supposed to replace them via a HP dealer, and
HP dealers don't want to know, unless you are a big
corporate customer whose account they don't want to
lose. So they allege it's a printer fault.
They aren't going to order one specially for you,
or just hand them out from stock on your say so
that it's faulty. Everyone would be asking for replacement
cartridges when 80 percent had been used.
It isn't easy for a retailer to confirm your claim.
So you get on to HP, then you have to find the right
(graphics and imaging products) division for your
territory, then convince them to give a RAN.
They confirm it's faulty, not just empty, and
send a shipping order to their shipping/distribution
facility and a replacement arrives.
It should then give a long life as it is fresh stock.

It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are
three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a "ghost
image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary image.
It would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating images
on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet that
was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Barry,

I’m talking about horizontal images 3 inches apart. In other words, the
words “printer option” would be repeated 3 inches lower on the page.
Also, the problem is common in my case, twice. That's why my question,
is it a HP or all laser printers problem. Should I pitch the printer
and buy another or try a third cartridge?


Barry Watzman wrote:
It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are
three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a "ghost
image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary image. It
would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating
images on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet
that was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

That's what I'd call vertical ghosting .... like you said, "DOWN the page".

It's not common with either HP or laser printers in general. But it
does happen; it's a toner cartridge fault.

The best laser printer is an old, working, HP LaserJet 4+.


Geri wrote:
Barry,

I’m talking about horizontal images 3 inches apart. In other words, the
words “printer option” would be repeated 3 inches lower on the page.
Also, the problem is common in my case, twice. That's why my question,
is it a HP or all laser printers problem. Should I pitch the printer
and buy another or try a third cartridge?


Barry Watzman wrote:
It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There
are three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic
scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a
"ghost image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary
image. It would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating
images on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the
toner cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner
was only half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement
cartridge is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet
that was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Where are you getting the toner cartridges from? If they are new HP
cartridges they should be warranted against this happening. Even if
they are refills or 3rd party, I would hold the company that provides
them to warrant the product. They should not be failing while the toner
cartridge is still partially full. In fact, in general laser cartridge
drums can last several refills.

Art

Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating images
on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet that
was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Geri wrote:
Barry,

I’m talking about horizontal images 3 inches apart. In other words, the
words “printer option” would be repeated 3 inches lower on the page.
Also, the problem is common in my case, twice. That's why my question,
is it a HP or all laser printers problem. Should I pitch the printer
and buy another or try a third cartridge?


Barry Watzman wrote:
It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are
three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a "ghost
image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary image. It
would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating
images on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet
that was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Geri
If the exact vertical distance from the start of the real image and the start
of the ghost is 2.94 inches (75.4mm) then this is a toner cartridge problem. If
it is 2.47 inches (62.8mm) then it is a fuser problem.
Both cartridges and fusers can cause ghosting but 95% of the time it is a toner
cartridge.
Ghosting is common to all laser printers but should only occur when the
cartridge is at the end of its life but usually does not occur at all.
Try to get the cartridge replaced under warranty.
Good luck.

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

I think I'd modify your comment that "Ghosting is common to all laser
printers" to "Ghosting is potentially possible all laser printers". I
was in the printer industry for 2 decades, and I rarely saw this problem
.... only once or twice. Yes, it can happen if the drum isn't cleaned
(or if toner sticks to the fuser rollers .... which isn't supposed to
happen), but in fact it's rare. Possible, but rare.


Tony wrote:
Geri wrote:
Barry,

I’m talking about horizontal images 3 inches apart. In other words, the
words “printer option” would be repeated 3 inches lower on the page.
Also, the problem is common in my case, twice. That's why my question,
is it a HP or all laser printers problem. Should I pitch the printer
and buy another or try a third cartridge?


Barry Watzman wrote:
It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are
three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a "ghost
image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary image. It
would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:
On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating
images on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet
that was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Geri
If the exact vertical distance from the start of the real image and the start
of the ghost is 2.94 inches (75.4mm) then this is a toner cartridge problem. If
it is 2.47 inches (62.8mm) then it is a fuser problem.
Both cartridges and fusers can cause ghosting but 95% of the time it is a toner
cartridge.
Ghosting is common to all laser printers but should only occur when the
cartridge is at the end of its life but usually does not occur at all.
Try to get the cartridge replaced under warranty.
Good luck.

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

Barry
I respect your experience but have to say that with all "print defect" issues
we see, at least 10% are ghosts of which nearly all are cartridge related.
Tony

Barry Watzman wrote:
I think I'd modify your comment that "Ghosting is common to all laser
printers" to "Ghosting is potentially possible all laser printers". I
was in the printer industry for 2 decades, and I rarely saw this problem
... only once or twice. Yes, it can happen if the drum isn't cleaned
(or if toner sticks to the fuser rollers .... which isn't supposed to
happen), but in fact it's rare. Possible, but rare.


Tony wrote:
Geri wrote:
Barry,

I’m talking about horizontal images 3 inches apart. In other words, the
words “printer option” would be repeated 3 inches lower on the page.
Also, the problem is common in my case, twice. That's why my question,
is it a HP or all laser printers problem. Should I pitch the printer
and buy another or try a third cartridge?


Barry Watzman wrote:
It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are
three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a "ghost
image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary image. It
would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:
On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating
images on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner
cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only
half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge
is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m
willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet
that was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri

Geri
If the exact vertical distance from the start of the real image and the
start
of the ghost is 2.94 inches (75.4mm) then this is a toner cartridge problem.
If
it is 2.47 inches (62.8mm) then it is a fuser problem.
Both cartridges and fusers can cause ghosting but 95% of the time it is a
toner
cartridge.
Ghosting is common to all laser printers but should only occur when the
cartridge is at the end of its life but usually does not occur at all.
Try to get the cartridge replaced under warranty.
Good luck.

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging