Has anyone ever cleaned or lubricated a noisy power supply fan in a Z3100?

[Shutterbug2006]

My Z3100 44" started making noises today, a familiar sound of a dirty fan you might expect to hear in a computer case.

I have a copy of the 300+ page service manual - it's a bit of a daunting task to open up the printer, I'm curious if anyone else has had this problem and fixed it permanently.

I temporarily solved the problem by tapping on the power supply box and the fan stopped making the wrrrr wrrrr wrrrr vacuum-cleaner sound, thankfully, because it was pretty loud and annoying.

[John Nollendorfs]

My Z3100 44" started making noises today, a familiar sound of a dirty fan you might expect to hear in a computer case.

I have a copy of the 300+ page service manual - it's a bit of a daunting task to open up the printer, I'm curious if anyone else has had this problem and fixed it permanently.

I temporarily solved the problem by tapping on the power supply box and the fan stopped making the wrrrr wrrrr wrrrr vacuum-cleaner sound, thankfully, because it was pretty loud and annoying.

I had the same thing happen about a year ago. Called HP, and they said to call back if it continued to be a problem. The noise went away, and I have had not further problems.

John Nollendorfs

[dandeliondigital]

John,
Calling and then having the problem go away. WOW! That sounds too good to be true. Do you think HP had anything to do with it? As a HPZ3100ps user, I hope I can have that happen for me sometime.

So long for now, TOM

I had the same thing happen about a year ago. Called HP, and they said to call back if it continued to be a problem. The noise went away, and I have had not further problems.

John Nollendorfs

[John Nollendorfs]

Yep, I thought it was too good to be true also. I figured I'ld get the service guy out, and he would replace the service area--getting pretty grundgy by now, but no such luck. I just periodically get in there with paper towels in wipe things out!

2 1/2 years and still printing like a champ! Only changed one print head so far. But lots of ink carts! ;-)

John Nollendorfs

John,
Calling and then having the problem go away. WOW! That sounds too good to be true. Do you think HP had anything to do with it? As a HPZ3100ps user, I hope I can have that happen for me sometime.

So long for now, TOM

[Shutterbug2006]

I forgot to come back and update the thread after disassembling the printer and fixing the problem. It wasn't particularly difficult - the printer had to be disassembled enough to gain access to the power supply module.

I opened the power supply, removed the fan, removed the sticker from the back of the fan and removed a rubber plug in the center. You can see the spindle inside at this point. I filled it with lubricant and sealed it all back up again and reassembled the printer and the problem was solved until today, when the noise returned. So I got a couple of years out of it and have to go through the whole process again.

Rrrrrr Rrrrrrr Whirrrrr It sounds like a vacuum cleaner at times.

So I guess it's time to dis-assemble the printer again and lubricate the fan again.

It's been a great printer other than this particular problem.

[howardm]

why don't you just purchase/replace the fan w/ a new one?  Once the bearing/bushing/sleeve is shot, it's shot.

[fnl401]

It happened on my Z3200. My IT guy took the whole printer apart, striped out the old fan, put in new (fan costs £10) and problem solved.
It does seem that the power supply is deep inside and there were parts everywhere for a day, but including his labour much cheaper than the HP option which is a new power supply.
I used to leave it running 24/7 to ensure self cleaning so maybe the fan isnt up to that much use.