I started noticing last Spring, that the belt on my HP 500 was beginning to show wear, so I ordered a replacement belt with plans to replace the belt when time allowed.
About 1 month ago, it began to really fray, but there never was a time between rush jobs to have the plotter out of service. With the possibility of having trouble during the repair, having the wrong belt, breaking a part and having to re-order, etc., I just couldn't take the chance of being without the plotter for several days or a week.
Yesterday, one of the strands came loose and wrapped around the pulley which stopped the carriage when it hit the end of the line. I was able to clip the strand and finish several more plots, but had to fix the plotter yesterday afternoon.
The repair took me 3 hours, but most of that time was spent cleaning the pieces of belt out of the machine that had collected over a 6 month period. The plotter started right back up, performed the cartridge alignment perfectly and promptly plotted out a plat with no problems.
Anyhow, belt replacement on the HP 500 is not too much more difficult than replacing the trailing cable or a belt on a HP 450 - just glad it was finally done.
PS. Sorry about the warning, but yesterday morning just looking at the plotter made me kind of sick...
Thanks, now I know who to call when one of mine goes.
Bruce
I just had mine done yesterday. So you spent three hours of down time to replace it yourself? Call me crazy, but in the hour that the tech guy took to do mine while I was billable, it seems kinda backwards. But, I'm glad it was successful for you.
I didn't even want to try to get into mine.
andy
PS../. did you check the replacement dates on your "print heads". Mine said 2008!! So we ordered them right after.
Hey Andy, who do you use for your plotter repairs/maintenance?
Michael Clark in the Cape.
They have a 1 day minimum base charge of $900 to come and fix or do anything on a HP device. Then they charge you for parts, etc. and you better hope that they don't have to come back the next day. Or you can ship it off to them and wait. Glad you have tech support nearby - we don't.
wow!! my bill was $300 including the belt and in office service.
Oh, how I love
the sound of that plotter humming!!! cha ching!!
Oh, how I love
" the sound of that plotter humming!!! cha ching!! "
No doubt! Our problem is that the nearest HP technician is 125 miles away or at least the last time I checked there was one there. I can't blame them for the high cost to just show up, I wouldn't go there to survey for even that. By now, there might be a technician within 60-80 miles - I'll have to check.
Thanks! That's good to know - it's only a matter of time, I'm sure, before we'll need his services. We used to load it in the truck and take it to Speedy Blue in Naples but they are now out of the HP plotter repair business.
> So you spent three hours of down time to replace it yourself? Call me crazy, but in the hour that the tech guy took to do mine while I was billable, it seems kinda backwards..
Sometimes it's nice to be in control of one's own destiny instead of relying upon others.
:good:
>
> Sometimes it's nice to be in control of one's own destiny instead of relying upon others.
Until your plotter is in pieces on the floor and you realize you just wasted 3 hours of billable time screwing the machine up beyond all recognition. One mistake around that tensioned band is all it takes. No thanks, I'll stick to what I'm good at and PAY to have the other stuff done right the first time.
"A man has to know his limitations" Clint Eastwood
I can't argue with you there Andy. There's been a few times that I have wished that I had never attempted to fix something that got messed up worse. But many years ago, I fixed an outboard engine with a chocolate chip cookie and I have been cursed ever since with the need to try.
"...and I have been cursed ever since with the need to try."
Definitely understand that, but, dang, if I don't screw it up almost every time.
Perry's a natural maker and fixer, not me:-(
I can stack wood, though.
Clyde
> > minimum base charge of $900
>
> Sometimes it's nice to be in control of one's own destiny instead of relying upon others.
$28 dollar belt and one hour of my time. That pays better than most surveys.
I did a 250C on Wednesday evening. Will do a new carriage on a 450C in the next week or two. I love working on these.
Rick
HP 500 Belt Replacement>>>> JEFF
Now it's my turn to replace the belt on my HP 500 24"
Any hints on where to find videos or helpful instructions?? or any of your own hints? My belt should be arriving in a week.
I did check with our local staples for a repair person and the comment was "I don't know anyone that repairs printers or plotters anymore." I'd rather not do it, but I can't afford a tech for $900.
I did find some youtube videos for the 750 belt replacement and I figure i can't be any harder???
Don
HP 500 Belt Replacement>>>> JEFF
I just did mine last month. It took about 3-4 hours following the steps in the repair manual. Send me your email and I'll send you a copy of the manual.
HP 500 Belt Replacement>>>> JEFF
Try going on line and search for the Service Manual for the HP 500. Also, you might contact Jason Ake at PlottersPro in Austin, Texas as they may give you some help. I took my 450C into him in December 2011, when I was in that area to spend Christmas with our son and his family, to have him go through it about 3 years after I had to replace the shredded belt on it. In 2008, after getting it all back together, it wouldn't load the media. I had it in a shop here in Sierra Vista, AZ for almost 2½ years, 2008-2011, with no results. I took it to Phoenix in January 2011 to a survey supply store that told me they could probably fix it and was told they would get back to me. They had it until September, 2011 and finally after calling them to find out the status, as I had heard nothing from them, was told that they couldn't fix it and couldn't get the parts. Anyway, I picked it up and brought it home and thought that I would mess around with it some more. I found out by experimenting with loading the media position by sliding it a little farther to the right, past the edge of media edge loading line, that it would work. The media had to be about 3/8" right of the marked edge position line. When Jason went through it, he said that when I had replaced the belt, when putting it back together I had put one part in above a slot on the one end that caused the necessity of sliding the media further right to have it accepted by the mechanism. Anyhow, if you can't find any documentation or help for the HP 500, I have the Servce Manual for the 450C that I could copy and send to you. I also can send you a link to PlottersPro if you want it.
HP 500 Belt Replacement>>>> JEFF
Check your email. I uploaded the service manual to my Dropbox and emailed you the link to download it. It's probably to big for most people to receive by email.
