Printer problem (see photo)

[malcolm]

My father's printer is causing trouble. It is 20 years old so is well worth keeping going while I am visiting. I've tried print head alignment and gave the print head a good clean and cleaned the encoder strip.

Seems to happen about 4 times a page and what I think is happening is the printer prints stuff it can reach then moves the paper forward 1/16 page and the paper or print head isn't in the right place when it starts printing some more stuff. Google, and AI aren't helpful but we've got a welding forum here. Is it just worn out and beyond economical repair or can anyone suggest what is causing this or a fix? I suppose a bad bearing on one of the multi roller bits would do it.

 

[julianf]

i had similar with mine, but that was grime on the strip, but you have done that already

 

[MattF]

What make & model of printer?

 

[malcolm]

It's a Brother printer. I can check the model number tomorrow.

 

[Misterg]

If the print head runs on a metal rail, try cleaning any gunge off the rail, then wipe a very small amount of oil onto it with a rag.

 

[Kram]

The heada are usually on a rail but driven by a toothed belt and pulley. Check for crap on the belt or a stripped tooth - looks to me like its slipped a tooth.

 

[gaz1]

the main ones are these for printing offset on words

performing a print head alignment or calibration, cleaning the encoder strip and paper feed rollers

encoder strip is not the problem otherwise it would print offset on the start of the letters but you are dealing with grim and dirt on a 20 year old printer so clean everything and dont forget the printer head belt drive as well

 

[malcolm]

Thanks all. It's a Brother MFC-6890CDW. I've downloaded the service manual.

I'll give it a clean and inspection but won't spend much time on it if that doesn't work. I suspect he'll be getting a new printer for his birthday.

 

[Brummie]

I had a similar problem on an old epsom inkjet printer. The printhead had jumped a few teeth on the belt.

 

[zzr1200]

Try re-installing the driver, if you can find it....

 

[malcolm]

I didn't get the chance to do anything more. Odd thing though - if you print in the other direction the black writing moves around but the colour writing goes in a straight line. I've already called bad printer and I'll buy him a new one. My father has concerns for the environmental impact of throwing stuff away and that's fair enough. It would be fun to understand the issue. Anyone with ideas? It's not going to be printer head drive belt or paper rollers if it works in blue.