Fax Machines, Top Four Problems and How to Fix Them

iv>and toner being removed from the roller.  The roller
If you have a problem with your fax machine, chancesshould pick up the paper much better now.  If not you
are it’s one that I mention in this article. Find thewill need to replace the roller with a new one. Use the
solution, read on…steps above and order an ADF feed roller or a feed
There are many makes and models of fax machines,roller kit.  A feed roller kit normally consists of a
but they all have certain problems that come up thatpre-feed roller, feed roller and a separation pad.
are easy to fix.  I have listed four common problems Replacing this kit will make it feed like new.
and will explain the problem and the solution for each. Lines sending faxes or using the copy feature
I charge for this so this is a valuable article for anyoneThis is when the faxes that you send or transmit have
who has a fax machine.  Keep it filed so you canlines or streaks on them.  This is often caused by
retrieve it for another time or use it now to repair ansomething on the slit glass of the fax machine
existing problem.scanner.  To test it, make a copy on your fax
Multi-feeding through the automatic document feedermachine.  Is there a line?  If yes, print a journal.  If
This is when you put a stack of papers into thethere is only a line when you copy and no line when
automatic document feeder (ADF) and it pulls moreyou print a journal, the problem is the slit glass.  You
than one in at a time.  This is called multi-feeding. will need to clean the slit glass.  Lift up the ADF cover
Most ADF’s have an item that separates theand shine a flashlight inside.  Look for a small “one
paper called a separation pad.  This wears out afterinch” by “eleven inch” glass.  Inspect it for
some use and needs to be replaced.  Open the ADFwhiteout, ink or foreign matter stuck to it.  Remove
cover and shine a flashlight up into this area.  If it isthe stain by first scrapping it with your finger nail and
worn out replace it.  You can call the manufacturerremove as much as you can.  Then use an alcohol
and speak with the parts department for aswab to remove the rest.
replacement ADF separation pad.  Replace it and youKeeps ringing but never answers or receives faxes
will have your ADF working good again.  While youIf your fax machine keeps ringing without answering it
are repairing this you should also clean or replace theprobably has the auto answer function turned off. 
ADF feed roller.  See “Not pulling in originals.”  ALook in your owners manual on how to turn on auto
little modification I have done many times is flipping thereceive.  If you don’t have an operator’s
pad over.  Some models you can do this and actuallymanual it is often located directly on the operation
get double the life on the pad.panel.  Set it for “on” and test it. 
 Not pulling in originalsMy service business receives many calls for each of
This is when your originals don’t pull in thethese problems.   We make an attempt to try and
papers when you insert them into the ADF.  You canexplain to the customer on how to fix it themselves,
use WD-40 to clean this roller.  Take a strong cottonbut some people just want to see a technician. 
cloth that will not tear and saturate it with WD-40. That’s where I come in, and make an easy
Clean the roller well all the way around the surfacedollar.  If you want to save money, you can by fixing
and then take the dry part and make sure you get allit yourself and use the money you saved to take a
the cleaner off of the roller.  You will probably noticefriend out to dinner instead!
that the rag is very dirty and black from the ink, dirt