LaserJet 5 - Vertical smudge down the middle

[devorose]

I have 2 LaserJet 5 B&W laser printers, one with TONS of output and one that is used much less frequently. They are both about the same age. Both printers are leaving a vertical smudge about 3/4 inch wide down the middle of the page. Not every time, but much of the time, sometimes very faint, sometimes really obnoxious. We've tried cleaning all the usual places, and changing to new cartridges - no success. I'm wondering if there is something in both of them that has worn out simply from age, since the usage has varied so greatly. Any ideas?

 

[netmanrick]

How about looking at the fuser for toner contamination.
Also check the large black roller(I had a brain fart-I forgot what it's called) at the front of the machine for spots.

Rick Harris
SC Dept of Motor Vehicles
Network Operations

 

[pcrepair]

a few things to try:
-change the toner cartridge
-clean the scanner
-check the transfer roller, is it white-ish? if so replace it.
-check the fuser.
-lastly could be HVPS.

Good luck.

 

[devorose]

Thanks for the tips - but you are a little over my head with terms. I did find one very suspicious looking item but I haven't any idea what the part is or how to get at it. I opened the rear door of the printer, next to the power cord, and lifted the black plastic piece near the bottom, exposing a black roller and a white roller. On the white roller there is what appears to be cooked-on toner in exactly the location where the smudge is - the middle of the page. I tried cleaning it off, both cold and with the printer running, to no real avail. The stuff is really on there and I can only access a small part of the white roller anyway. I suspect that this roller needs to be replaced, but how in the world do I get it out, what is it called and where can I get another?
Thanks again for helping me.