How To Properly Remanufacture Your HP Q1338A-Q1339A Black Toner Cartridge In Just 53 Easy Steps

Hewlett Packard's LaserJet 4200 and the LaserJetNote: The OEM sealing foam material is sticky and
4300 series of printers were first released inis not easily removed.
November of 2002. They were both designed toStep #15:
replace the now discontinued Hewlett PackardNote: This step is only for the HP 4300. Using a
4100 LaserJet printer.Dremel with a cutting bit cut away the retaining
Based on a new print engine, the 4200 and 4300wall that prevents the wiper blade from being
series have increased print speeds of 35 ppmremoved.
(pages per minute) for the 4200 and 45 ppmStep #16:oRemove the two screws holding the
(pages per minute) for the 4300 with anwiper blade. Then remove the blade.
improved first page out time of less than 9Step #17:oDump the waste from the hopper.
seconds.Clean the hopper using dry compressed air or a
Wow, that is pretty fast. At a starting cost ofvacuum.
about $1,000 for the base model 4200 andStep #18:oApply padding powder to the new
$1,399 for the base model 4300. These newwiper blade and place the blade onto the waste
printers are priced at the same cost as thehopper. Install the two screws that hold the blade
Hewlett Packard 4100 LaserJet printer.in place.
There are differences in the molding of theStep #19:oYou will now need to seal the area
cartridges which do prevent them from beingaround the wiper blade using expanding foam
interchangeable. One notable difference is in thealong the edge of the blade and in the square
design of the toner hopper.holes on the ends.
The toner hopper on the HP 4300 is larger andStep #20:oClean the PCR saddles using a swab
holds 1,050 grams of toner for an estimated pageand alcohol.
yield of. This will approximately perform 18,000Step #21:oAt this point, you want to apply new
pages @ 5% coverage.conductive grease to the black contact saddle.
The smaller toner hopper on the HP 4200 holdsInstall the cleaned PCR.
only 690 grams of toner and yields approximatelyStep #22:oApply padding powder to the drum.
12,000 pages @ 5% coverage. Another notableSlide the drive gear into the bearing hub.
difference is in the waste section. The wasteStep #23:oInstall the contact end plate.
hopper of the HP 4300 is larger to hold the extraNote: Make sure the contact plate sits flush with
waste produced by the higher fill weight.the end of the waste hopper.
The HP 4200 waste hopper also has a fin stickingStep #24:oInstall the screw that holds the contact
up on the left side of the hopper that preventsplate in position.
the cartridge from fitting into the HP 4300Step #25:oPlace the waste hopper aside in a
LaserJet printer.protected area out of the light.
Due to the fact that the 4200 and the 4300 bothStep #26:oRemove the mag roller drive gear
use the same print engine, the components thathousing from the end of the toner hopper. Then
make up the cartridges are the same.remove he mag roller drive.
The cartridge chips located on the top right sideStep #27:oRemove the screw that holds the mag
of the waste hopper however, are in indeedroller end plate.
different. A slight difference in programmingStep #28:oUsing needle nose pliers, simply
prevents one chip from being used on bothremove the hinge pin from the mag roller end
cartridges, so it's important to use the correctplate.
chip when remanufacturing the cartridge.Step #29:oRemove the mag roller tension spring.
Though the chip is physically different than that ofStep #30:oPull the mag roller end plate from the
the HP 4100, the information that the chiptoner hopper.
contains is nearly the same.Note: Do not lose the bearing that sits inside the
A few additional items like First Installed Date andmag roller end plate.
Last Date Used are one-stored chips. ThisStep #31:oLift the free end of the mag roller
information is displayed at the bottom of thesliding the roller out of the mag roller end plate on
Supplies Status Page.the opposite side of the toner hopper.
Just like the HP 4100, 4200 and the 4300, all canNote: Do not lose the bearing that sits inside the
be run with a spent chip or with no chip installedmag roller end plate.
at all.Step #32:oRemove the mag roller bearings from
Several testing have shown that the chip can bethe each end of the roller. Clean the mag roller
run again in the printer that it was used inusing dry compressed air or vacuum, then using a
originally. Running the used chip causes a "Replacelint free cloth and a mag roller cleaner. Clean the
Cartridge" message and the loss of the toner lowmag roller bearings and use a lint free cloth.
warning.Step #33:oRemove the two screws holding the
Usage of the chip in a machine other than the onedoctor blade.
it was previously running in will result in a "Non-HPStep #34:oLift the plastic scrapers and mylar
Cartridge Detected" message and the loss of allshims off each end of the doctor blade.
the information on the Supplies Status Page.Step #35:oLift the doctor blade from the toner
While running the cartridge without the chip, it willhopper. If you plan on using the doctor blade
result in a "10.10.00 Supplies Memory Error" whenagain, clean the doctor blade using dry
the cartridge is first installed.compressed air or a vacuum, then using a lint
After pressing the Select button a "Non-HPfree cloth and alcohol.
Cartridge Detected message will appear beforeStep #36:oDump the old toner out of the toner
the machine goes to ready. All the informationhopper. Using dry compressed air or a vacuum,
stored in the chip will not be available and aclean out the hopper.
"Warning" message is all you will find on theStep #37:oFill the toner hopper with the correct
Supplies Status Page.amount of toner depending on the cartridge type
Here are you Step-by-Stepyou are building.
"How-to-Remanufacture" the HP Q1338A/Q1339Step #38:oPlace the new or cleaned doctor blade
Instructions:onto the toner hopper. Place the mylar shims and
Let's get straight to the point, no beating aroundthe plastic scrapers on each end of the doctor
the bush during this lecture.blade. Install the two screws holding the blade in
First, you will need the necessary Tools &place.
Supplies Required:Step #39:oSlide the black mag roller bearing onto
Tools & Supplies Required:oDiagonal Cuttersthe contact end and the white bearing onto the
(tool)oPhillips Head Screwdriver (tool)oSmall Flatdrive gear end of the mag roller. Slide the mag
Blade Screwdriver (tool)oDremel Tool with Cuttingroller contact hub into the mag roller bearing plate
Bit (tool)oNeedle nose Pliers (tool)oPadding Powderon the toner hopper.
(supply)oSoft Lint Free Cloth (supply)oAnhydrousStep #40:oAlign the mag roller bearing end plate
Isopropyl Alcohol (supply)oSwabs (supply)oTonerto the toner hopper and slide the end plate onto
(supply)oDrum (supply)oExpanding Foamthe toner hopper.
(supply)oDoctor Blade (supply)oWiper BladeStep #41:oInstall the mag roller tension spring and
(supply)the screw into the mag roller bearing end plate.
Here you will also be provided with the OEMStep #42:oInstall the hinge pin into the mag roller
(original equipment manufacturer) information:bearing plate.
HP 4200:oPart Number: Q1338AoOEM Gram Load:Step #43:oSlide the mag roller drive onto the mag
690 gramsoYield @ 5% coverage: 12,000 pages /roller.
min:35oResolution: 300/600/1200dpi (dots per inch)Note: Make sure the two injection molding points
HP 4300:oPart Number: Q1339AoOEM Gram Load:on the mag roller drive gear face outward.
1025 gramsoYield @ 5% coverage: 18,000 pagesStep #44:oPlace the mag roller drive gear housing
min:45oResolution: 300/600/1200dpi (dots peronto the end of the mag roller, making sure the
inch)keyed end of the magnet fits into the gear
Below are your 53 easy steps to know how tohousing.
remanufacture your HP 4200/4300 LaserJetStep #45:oUsing a 3/32-drill bit, drill a hole next to
Q1338A/Q1339A toner cartridges.the toner sensing contact on the cartridge
Step #1:oPlace the cartridge on the worktablecontact end cap.
with the drum facing upward and the drumStep #46:oJoin the toner hopper and waste
shutter arm towards you.hopper together. Place the cartridge gear housing
Step #2:oUsing a small flat blade screwdriver,end cap onto the side of the cartridge. Install the
release the clip that holds the drum shutter armfour screws that hold the end cap in place.
to the cartridge.Step #47:oPlace the contact end cap onto the
Step #3:oPull the shutter arm from the drumend of the cartridge. Install the two screws that
shutter and slide the shutter arm from itshold the end cap in place.
positioning post.Step #48:oYou will now need to lock the contact
Note: Do not lose the tension spring that fits insideend cap in place. To do this, drill a 1/16 hole
the drum shutter arm. Place the tension springthrough the contact end cap and through the
back into the shutter arm.toner sensor bar positioning post. The hole needs
Step #4:oOpen the drum shutter exposing theto be drilled approximately 1/8 from the end of
drum. The drum shutter is keyed on thethe toner hopper and 1/8 from the end of the
non-contact side of the cartridge. Slide the shuttersloped section on the contact end cap.
bar back until the bar can be removed from theStep #49:oNow, install a 1/16 spring pin into the
cartridge end cap.hole drilled in the bottom of the contact end cap.
Step #5:oPull the drum shutter bar from theStep #50:oInstall the keyed end of the drum
cartridge contact end cap. Then you want to setshutter bar into the gear housing end cap.
the drum shutter aside.Step #51:oInstall the non-keyed end of the drum
Step #6:oNext, remove the two screws holdingshutter bar into the contact end cap.
the cartridge cap to the cartridge.Step #52:oSlide the drum shutter arm onto the
Step #7:oUsing a flat blade screwdriver, pry thepositioning post. Push the drum shutter arm into
contact end cap away from the toner hopperthe drum shutter. Gently, slide and open the
breaking the three plastic welds holding the endshutter to engage the tension spring.
cap to the toner hopper. Afterwards, remove theStep #53a:oWe are almost done. Place one probe
end caps.of an Ohmmeter on the toner sensor contact and
Step #8:oUsing diagonal cutters cut the threeplace the other probe into the hole that was drilled
plastic welds flush with the contact end cap.next to the contact. Locate the sensor bar that
Step #9:oSimply rotate the cartridge 180 degrees.comes out from the toner hopper through the
Carefully remove the four screws holding thehole drilled in the end cap, making sure you have
gear housing end cap.a low resistance connection.
Step #10:oWhile holding the opposite end of theNote: If the contact is not made between the
cartridge, remove the gear assembly end capsensor bar and thecontact on the end plate, this
from the cartridge. Then you want to separatewill result in an error "54.1 Remove Sealing Tape"
the two sections and set the toner hopper aside.or if contact is lost during usage, a premature
Step #11:oRemove the screw holding the drumtoner low can occur.
axle. Then remove the drum axle.Step #53b:oTest the cartridge.
Step #12:oLift the drum by the small gear and pullCongratulations, you have successfully completed
the drum from the bearing hub.the process on how to remanufacture your own
Step #13:oRemove the PCR from the PCRHP 4200/4300 series LaserJet toner cartridges.
saddles.Good luck and complete each cartridge as if it
Note: If you are going to reuse the PCR clean thewere your last. This information is provided to
roller using a lint free cloth and water.you for both educational use and to improve your
Step #14:oIn order to remove the wiper blades;knowledge in the technical area within the
pull the OEM sealing foam material away from theremanufacturing industry.
wiper blade.