OKI MICROLINE - Recent Questions, Troubleshooting & Support

https://www.oki.com/printing/download/59348501_210042.pdf (Check the headgap lever position - page #8)

Dot matrix printheads go bad, can be rebuilt, never had great luck cleaning, pins get stuck out.. Also there is a lever that moves the printhead closer or farther from paper. make sure that is in the right position. Usually on top cover may have numbers by the lever such as 1 , 2 , 3 etc

Did u install new usb drivers?

You do not say how the cards are fed. Are they tractor fed or by sheet feed. I suspect sheet fed and the platen roller has gone shiny. Source a can of platen cleaner to clean the platen roller. DO NOT use alcohol or a spirit based cleaner.

This is a SNIP of a rather LONG FIX: Found here: http://forums.windrivers.com/showthread.php?7080-RESOLVED-Okidata-Microline-184-Turbo "Just purchased this thing and am running it a machine to print checks with (Win95, p1-200, 48 Mb ram). The Oki dot matrix printers don't give you drivers, they tell you to use the drivers from Win95 disk. Sure... (just lazy if you ask me :-) OK using the Oki Microline 184 IBM Turbo driver the thing works fine, EXCEPT that it *always* prints in NLQ mode no matter what the settings in the control panel, it just switches to NLQ before each print job. So... we switch to a "generic text" driver and it works fine that way EXCEPT that it no longer recognises the custom paper length (8.5" wide X 7" long) Now here's the wierd part... IF I switch back to the win95 driver, re-accept the custom paper size, print a test page (in NLQ of course), switch back to the generic driver, re-accept the the custom paper size, switch the printer to normal (non NLQ), and print it works fine with the custom paper size and non-NLQ mode until the next time it needs to print. The printer remains ON 24/7, so its not reseting itself. It just seems that with the Win95 driver there is no way to set it to print in anything but NLQ AND the generic driver refuses to keep the custom paper sizes in memory. Anyone seen this before? Never came accross this myself. I may just end up sending this thing back and getting an Epson or someting else." AND THERE IS THIS: "This is like going back to the dark ages....most of those old impact printers had dip switches to set things like default print quality. Additionally, Oki's usually came in two 'flavors'--plain Oki and IBM Oki. It's important that you install the correct driver between the two options..." Anthony

Is this a networked printer? You may need to reload the print driver into your computers. Most printers are generic enough that computers will recognize them and automatically install the drivers. Sometimes you need to go to the manufacturer's website and download the drivers you need.

Agree with pcfixup.ca. Remember the software on a pc overrides the printers actual settings.

Alas you cannot clear the ram which is holding your print jobs. This is not a common problem but have seen it before. The only way to resolve it is to replace the main control board.

As the alarm is on and steady then you most probably knocked the change lever into a position where it detects no paper loaded. The easiest way to check is to load your paper and move the change lever until the error lamp goes out!

The problem your having is a spacer motor. It's located under the carriage that holds the ribbon/printhead. The part number is 56513701. Available at Seattle Platen - Dale 1800-221-2388.

Here's a free copy of the Okidata 320T service manual that will walk you through testing and verfying before ordering the replacement part.

If this helped you, please hit me up with a FIXYA. Thanks.

http://www.feedroller.com/Store/Service%20Manual/SER320T.PDF

Well it sounds like the old inverter had a problem with regulation and it has inturn blown the power supplies in both printers. Without buying new PSU's there is nothing you can do. The Switch-mode power supplies in most printers do not like unstable input and that is what your inverter gave them.

Am afraid the Power Surge (when the power came back on) has damaged the unit and there is no "Reset" to these printers. You would need to replace the control board but as its a power surge there is a reasonable chance that the power supply will have been damaged/weakened and this will lead to a shortened life span of the printer. I would throw it away and replace with new. sorry, ( I am not a salesman either)