CLJ 3550 "59.99 Printer Error"

[LarrySchwarcz]

Hi Everyone,

I have an HP Color LaserJet 3550 and for the past few years it would occasionally (perhaps once every month or two) stop in the middle of a print job with the error, “59.99 Printer error” and instruct me to turn the printer off and then back on. This worked fine for a long time. But, now it’s a constant issue (can’t print a single page). Of course it went from occasional issue to constant issue the same day I offered to give this printer to my niece who’s in graduate school and could really use it!

I looked around on the web and in the service manual and found on page 439 that it may be due to an error in the “… secondary transfer roller engagement mechanism. PS16 may be the cause of the error.”

I also found on page 262 the instructions to remove this sensor.

Is this sensor something that I just need to clean/repair or should I replace it? I found on one website that someone solved this by replacing the whole pickup/feed assembly (part number RM1-0765-070CN) but this is not an inexpensive part!

Any hints on if I can repair/recondition this part or how I may be able to repair this without spending a small fortune?

Thanks!

Larry.

[davidzuts · Accepted solution]

Most likey the issue is not the sensor but one of the 2 solenoids on the paper pickup assembly. In order to repair you have to remove the paper pickup assembly and on the right sideof the assembly  there will be two solenoids. Each of these solenoids has or had a pad glued to the ledge that would dampen the noise of the "L" arm hitting when the solenoid was eneregized. When power was turned off to the solenoid a spring on the end of the "L" arm would make the "L" arm retract so that it stopped whatever roller when the end hit the cam opening. Over time the pad material starts to degrade and eventually all that is left is the glue that held the pad in place. So when the "L" arm hits the ledge it sticks and does not return and you then get the error. You need to clean the ledge on both or you can tell which one by pressing the "L" arm towards the center and one will stick. Once you clean off the ledge and the "L" arm you need to place down a new pad. I usually use a thin piece of velcro which works just fine. Removing the paper pickup assembly is not easy and you have to be careful when you reassemble.

[LarrySchwarcz]

Hi David,

Thanks for the prompt reply! When you say that I need to remove the paper pickup assembly is this the process that starts on page 225 of the service manual, "Pick-up/feed assembly removal?"

And, do you use the fuzzy or prickly side of the velcro (sorry, I don't know the actual terms for the two sides!). 

Thanks again!
Larry.

[davidzuts]

Yes that is the assembly. Will take you anywhere from 1.5 to 3  hours as it is not an easy job. Use the fuzzy side of the strip cut down to fit where the other piece was.  Refer to page 265 for the solenoid you need to remove and repair.

[LarrySchwarcz]

Hi David,

Well, it took me about 2.5 hours and four power failures (power went on/off/on/off but the whole event only lasted about 3 minutes) but I finished it!

At first I thought I had the right solenoide but it turned out I was looking at the one right below the gear plate.

Once I got the whole pickup assembly out it was obvious that there were two solenoids and the smaller one on the right was the sticky one.

Once I got the the small pads on both solenoides replaced (may as well do both while I have it disassembled!) I fired it up with fingers crossed! 

The printer came to life, calibrated, cleared the paper path and then gave me the error, "13.01.00 JAM IN TRAY 2."

Any ideas on where to first start looking for where I messed up? I don't know if this is any help but here's a picture looking inside now. Does any of this look out of place?

If I had to guess, could it be one or both of the rods that extend from the side of the printer into the pickup assembly?

Thanks again!
Larry.

[davidzuts]

It has been a long time since I worked on one of these but odds are one of the sensor flags or the actual sensor has an issue. When it gives you the message clearing paper path it means it detected paper in the paper path on boot up so it tries to move it out of the printer. Look in the service manual for the paper path diagram from tray 2 and there will be a sensor and flag as the paper comes up the front of the printer. Odds are one of those is out of position. Also check on the right side with the solenoid and plate you removed to remove the feed assembly. That is the solenoid that controls the paper pickup from tray 2 so if it is not working or installed wrong then you could get the error message.

[LarrySchwarcz]

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@davidzuts wrote:

It has been a long time since I worked on one of these but odds are one of the sensor flags or the actual sensor has an issue. When it gives you the message clearing paper path it means it detected paper in the paper path on boot up so it tries to move it out of the printer. Look in the service manual for the paper path diagram from tray 2 and there will be a sensor and flag as the paper comes up the front of the printer. Odds are one of those is out of position. Also check on the right side with the solenoid and plate you removed to remove the feed assembly. That is the solenoid that controls the paper pickup from tray 2 so if it is not working or installed wrong then you could get the error message.

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Hi David,

Well, as usual, you were right! I took off the side panel and watched very carefully while it tried to print a page. I could see that the paper pickup solenoid (the first one you'll find as you disassemble, not either on the pickup assembly) could not pull down far enough. I replaced the pad on that one while I had the whole thing apart. I used a cut off piece of a rubber washer that was about 1.43mm thick. This was obviously too thick! Today I replaced that with the same material I used on the two solenoides on the pickup assembly. The material I used is about 0.95mm thick.

I found a thin piece of the liner to the drawers of my tool box. I glued all of the pads in place with some CY glue. 

It's all put back together and printing fine!

I think I can now include this image :-). 

Thanks again for your quick replys!

Larry.