January 2006 Featured Technical Article

The HP LaserJet 4200/4300 Series Swing Plate Assembly
Playing Hard to Get

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7. Staying on the right side of the printer, find the four screws labeled “M3” (Figure 11, arrows) and remove them.
8. Now switch to the left side of the printer and locate the five screws labeled “M3” (Figure 12, arrows) and remove them. Two of these screws hold on the connecter access cover, which you should remove at this time (Figure 12, yellow box).
   
   

   Figure 11 - Remove the four screws labeled “M4” (red arrows).	Figure 12 - Once the five screws labeled “M3” (red arrows) are removed, the connector access cover can be removed (yellow box).

   
   
9. Locate and unplug the two cables underneath the connector access cover that are connected to the power supply, just below the main fan (Figure 13, arrows).
10. You are now ready to pull out the power supply as shown in Figure 14. The power supply will not slide out unless you lift it up slightly and pull back.
    
    

    Figure 13 - Red arrows indicate the two cables underneath the connector access cover.	Figure 14 - Pull up and out on the power supply to remove.

    
    
11. Remove the plastic power supply guide (Figure 15) and the plastic wire guide (Figure 16).
    
    

    Figure 15 - The plastic power supply guide.	Figure 16 - The plastic wire guide.

    
    
12. The toner cartridge guide is attached to the printer’s frame by a spring. Use a spring hook to detach the spring and remove the toner cartridge guide (Figure 17).
13. Finally, remove the white 23-tooth gear (Figure 18) and the three screws that hold the swing plate assembly in place (Figure 19, arrows). You can now remove the swing plate assembly.
    
    

    Figure 17 - Use a spring hook to detach and remove the toner cartridge guide.	Figure 18 - Remove the 23-tooth white gear.

    Figure 19 - The red arrows indicate the three screws that hold on the swing plate assembly.

If you’ve followed these instructions, you’ll have a lot of parts strewn about your work area. To put everything back in, install a new spring guide assembly, then work through the steps in reverse.

Even though this is a small and relatively cheap part, it can cause a big headache for you or your customers. Knowing how to replace it – which should be a last resort – should come in handy for you if you’re working on the LaserJet 4200/4300 series.

—Matt Barnum

Mr. Barnum has edited and wrote for Service Today since May 2001.

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