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Brand New Laserwriter IINTX
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-20 18:38:46
I just got a brand new Laserwriter IINTX. Took it out of the box and a spring came out I think where the paper tray is. Don't know where or what the spring is. Any ideas?

So I installed the IINTX controller and powered up the printer. The green LED flashes Green like its going to print the test page, as soon as the Green LED stops blinking , I get flashing Toner and paper out RED LEDs. I also smelt something burning, I found that the felt from the fuse roller cleaner was fused to the fuser roller so I am guessing that's what the smell is from.

Any ideas whats wrong the printer?

THanks!

Bill
Posted by: captaineos on 2022-02-20 22:29:17
No idea but cool story. Honestly I'm glad to hear people still finding stuff like this. I do have repair manuals for this on my public repo https://jbretro.wordpress.com/the-latest-google-drive-link/

Open the Gdrive link and search laserwriter
Posted by: volvo242gt on 2022-02-20 23:09:47
Bad capacitor in the power supply. Even if equipment has never been used, the capacitors will go bad. It's the green capacitor on the PS board. I've been through it with one I owned many years ago, then @Johnnya101 dealt with it recently on his, etc...
Posted by: joshc on 2022-02-21 00:08:15
Take some photos, it's great finding this stuff in as near to original condition as posssible.
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-21 03:23:48
Yup, common issue, I and @ScutBoy have gone through this. It's not only the green capacitor, there is also a tall black one too. Both leak. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, there are new ones sold, let me find the older threads for you and I'll edit this.

Also, if you have any issues with it grabbing paper, you will need a new pickup roller. If it's brand new, all the other rollers should be fine. If you plan on actually using it, you will need a new toner drum blade. They don't make them any more, so on the 99 percent chance you see streaking on the printed page, you will need to hack a new blade in, let me know if you need help or get to that point.

Since it's new, make sure all the packing plastic is removed inside, it should be listed in the manual.

How loud is it? When I got my well used 70k page one, it almost sounded like a quiet jet. That is not correct. There are two fans inside, one under the top cover above the ac power block, and one under the bottom cover. Both need to be oiled. The printer should be relatively quiet with quiet fan noise.

Here are some good threads on most of this stuff.

There are a few springs by the paper tray area inside. Once you have the top cover off, I'm sure you will find where it goes.
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-21 09:36:42
Wow, Thanks guys for all the great replies!

I will put up some photos. Just to complete the story. I got a brand new IIfx and a brand new Laserwriter II NTX together. and yes I plan to use the printer once I get it working 🙂 so let work together and fix it!

How do I test the fuser? I need to replace the upper roller at a minimum or replace the fuser.
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-21 10:02:20
What's going on with the roller and fuser? It's new, it shouldn't need to be replaced.
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-21 10:05:11
When I first turned on the printer I got a bad smell. When I looked in side the fuser and tried to remove the cleaning rod or what ever its called, I could not remove it! The felt or what ever material is stuck to the fusion roller
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-21 10:14:29
It won't come up at all? There's really nothing to fuse to it... It's just felt. You're talking lifting the green door up and there's the black plastic rectangle with the two little "handles" coming out of the top? You can try a little more force, there's nothing to hold it down. Once it's out, you can clean the felt or whatever may be on there off.

Was this thing BRAND NEW, as in never used it unwrapped, or just new condition? From the factory, there was no felt installed, I'm guessing there may be a plastic protector in there that wasn't removed.
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-21 11:00:38
Brand spanking new! Box still sealed with original glue, wrapped in original plastic. This is the fuser cleaning thing that comes with the toner. You lift the green lid and insert the plastic stick with felt and close the lid. yes even though its not printing the fuser is hot. I don't think its shutting off.
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-21 12:23:28
Wow, that is quite a find. That wasn't the brand new IIfx and LaserWriter that was on ebay recently ish, was it?

I know you can remove the fuser assembly by removing the four screws around its base and lifting it out. Here's the manual I used: https://www.applerepairmanuals.com/the_manuals_are_in_here/LaserWriter_II.pdf

Still odd that it stuck or melted... It IS possible that the bad cap took out some other part, I think there is some diode or something in line with it? Maybe an optocoupler or whatever it's called? That controls if the fuser gets turned on or off, and maybe yours is stuck on and got too hot?

I would try and get that felt thing out first. You shouldn't hurt anything by using some force and pulling it out. Then, recap or get a new power supply block and oil the fans. Then we can go from there.
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-21 14:24:47
Hi Johnny,

It looks like it may not be the power supply but the fuser. Measuring the thermistor you are supposed to get 1-2 MOhms, I get 1.2 Mohms. And the switch 1-3 ohms. I have a short on that connector so the fuser needs to be replaced. I think I will replace both the power supply and the fuser.

Here are some photos.
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-21 14:32:13
Definitely do both. My guess is something got damaged by cap goo in the power supply and ruined the fuser. Felt could have melted from overheated fuser OR maybe it had some weird coating from the factory that never burned off?
Posted by: Byrd on 2022-02-21 15:58:41
Like in a classic car sitting in a garage, rubber can perish in 5 - 10 years - foam can perish within a couple of years - if unused. Once the electronics are sorted you might need a greasy donor Laserwriter, that's had a lot of use, for parts.
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-21 19:26:51
There are a few springs by the paper tray area inside. Once you have the top cover off, I'm sure you will find where it goes.

Johnny,

Here is a photo of the spring. I cant find anywhere in side the printer it goes. I took the cover off and I ant find anything,

Any help would be appreciated!
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-22 03:27:16
How big is it? I know the paper tray itself should have two, one on either side of the metal bracket. Are both there? Is it relatively stiff or is it stretchy? There are also the large springs that are used for the top hinged cover, there should be one on each hinge.

Sidenote: while looking for the Laserwriter II manual online, this popped up. Wonder if they are real... AIM Compatible Replacement for Apple Laserwriter II Toner Cartridge (4000 Page Yield) (M6002) - Generic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WT9FSQG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_i_ZWNJQPSDZ00T5F4J68DN
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-22 06:29:45
How big is it? I know the paper tray itself should have two, one on either side of the metal bracket. Are both there? Is it relatively stiff or is it stretchy? There are also the large springs that are used for the top hinged cover, there should be one on each hinge.

Sidenote: while looking for the Laserwriter II manual online, this popped up. Wonder if they are real... AIM Compatible Replacement for Apple Laserwriter II Toner Cartridge (4000 Page Yield) (M6002) - Generic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WT9FSQG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_i_ZWNJQPSDZ00T5F4J68DN

The sprint is stiff. Its not for the cover, both are there and they are huge. This spring is like 2" long. Are the springs for the paper tray in the paper tray?
Posted by: Johnnya101 on 2022-02-22 06:36:02
There are the two springs in the paper tray, one on either side, but they are smaller and more stretchy. I'm thinking you may be seeing the spring on page 116 here:

One on each side. There really are not any more springs that could have easily flew out of the paper tray area other than those.
Posted by: ScutBoy on 2022-02-22 06:51:46
Like in a classic car sitting in a garage, rubber can perish in 5 - 10 years - foam can perish within a couple of years - if unused. Once the electronics are sorted you might need a greasy donor Laserwriter, that's had a lot of use, for parts.

I have organ donors, however the internals might not be in much better shape. I could pull a fuser assembly from one if that would help.
Posted by: retro_bill on 2022-02-22 06:55:07
Thanks Byrd, I got one off ebay. lets try that. I am waiting for the AC Power Supply and the Fuser from ebay. I have Removed them already from the printer.
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