Ghost images (black ink only)

[JBreezer]

My laserjet printer has started ghosting faint images of the sections of the black ink image, ~6.3cm down the page from the properly printed original part, and producing some vertical lines. [edit to add] The ghosting isn't all the way across the width, just on a few stripes down the page of which there are several, which are all black but faint enough further down that you can see the ghosting. The rest of the page is fine.

I looked into it already and realise it could be fuser or another of the rollers,  but its hard to get in and measure the diameter of the rollers to be sure which one. That gap indicates a 2cm diameter one (6.3/pi). Its strange that I haven't seen it happen for any other colours though, which makes me wonder if its related to the cartridge; which is a newer one (but I don't remember it starting to happen straight after I replaced it, can't swear on that). Can anyone confirm what cause is most likely with those symptoms, which rollers are that diameter / is it more than one thing? Thinking it might be harder to get it seen by someone for a while longer (in lockdown still in the UK). I've seen the ghosting on card and paper (and I set the print settings to tell it the weight, and buy stuff suitable for laser printers not the inkjet plasticised stuff).

[Valsimot]

The circumference of OPC drum ( the green/blue one you can see on the bottom part of toner cartridge ) is exactly 63 mm, that means you probably have something on black toners OPC that causing you issue.

Remove black toner, turn it upside down and rotate OPC drum with your thumb fingers on the end of each side easily one whole circle and check do you have some smudge or something on OPC.

[JBreezer]

Thanks for your insight. I've previously looked at it and I have seen stripes of toner on it that I have tried to clean off with blue tac/tissue, I think that only helped temporarily. I am now checking again and the rings around the OPC drum line up exactly with the lines on one of the ghosted prints when I put the edge of the paper up against it at the right spot. So thats clearly where its coming from, but I don't know why its staying there, I don't see  any marks or damage other than the ink. As I turn it, upside down, I get fresh toner on it, unevenly.

[Repairatrooper · Accepted solution]

A 63mm repetitive defect is always caused by a drum unit. There is likely either a spec of something on the drum or the drum has a tiny defect that is difficult to see. Cartridge replacement is likely your only option unless you find a small piece of label and are able to remove it without damaging the drum surface.