How to Replace the Drum Cleaning Blade on an HP LaserJet 2100TN
Laser printers are by far the fastest and simplest way to produce large quantities of high-quality documents. Though laser cartridges are often more expensive than ink cartridges, the per-page cost for an HP monochrome cartridge can be as little as 2 cents. Often a component such as the drum cleaning blade within the cartridge can become worn or damaged prior to the end of its toner supply. In these cases it is often desirable to replace the worn part yourself rather than simply tossing the entire cartridge.
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Things You'll Need
- Pair of rubber or nitrile gloves
- Philips screwdriver
- Small flathead screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
- Replacement drum cleaning blade
Instructions
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Disassemble the Cartridge
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1
Remove the large metal pin on the side of the cartridge with needle-nose pliers. The pin is on the right side of the cartridge (with the label facing you) and its exposed head is about the size of a dime. Hold the shutter back. The drum, which is a cylindrical aqua-colored metal part in the center of the opening, and the primary charge roller, which is a black rubber piece about 1/3 the diameter of the drum, can now carefully be removed.
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2
Locate two small metal pins in the opening. They are roughly the thickness of a toothpick and approximately 1/2 inch long. Use the flathead screwdriver to press these pins toward the outside of the cartridge. Once they are out far enough they can be pulled all the way out with needle-nose pliers.
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3
Set aside the larger of the two halves until you are ready to reassemble. Place the smaller half on a clean surface to begin replacement of drum cleaning blade.
Replace the Blade
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4
Remove the two Philips screws at base of the cleaning blade. Remove the blade and discard.
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5
Dump any toner that may have accumulated in the reservoir behind the blade. Save a small amount for the next step.
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6
Apply a small amount of the used toner to the edge of the new blade with a soft cloth. This will act as a lubricant between the hard rubber blade and the drum. Install a new cleaning blade and replace the two screws.
Reassembly
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7
Replace the primary charge roller, being sure it snaps into cradles firmly.
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8
Replace the drum gently and insert the large pin through the side of the assembly until it is flush and the drum is secure.
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9
Rejoin the two cartridge halves by holding them together and pushing the small pins back into their openings with the screwdriver.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When removing components always carefully set them aside on a clean and soft cloth to avoid scratching.
The process can be messy so always perform replacement in a workshop or garage and wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
Be sure to guard against Electrostatic Discharges (ESD's) by using a grounding wrist strap.
Always wear rubber or nitrile gloves when handling any internal components. Many are highly sensitive and the oils on skin can damage them and affect print quality.
