Consumers often have to switch out their printer’s toner cartridges especially if they print in high volumes. Brother HL-2130 is a very affordable entry-level monochrome laser printer. It’s a popular printer as it’s very easy and straightforward to use, as well as very compact and prints fast, making it well-received by many students and even business owners. However, this printer has already been discontinued. This makes it difficult for users to have cartridges to continue printing with their HL-2130 printer. If you don’t want to purchase another printer, what else can you do?
Compatible toner cartridges are not only significantly more affordable than OEM cartridges but they can also be used for printers that have already been discontinued! This way, you can continue to use your HL-2130 printer without worry. However, despite the appealing price points of compatible toner cartridges, they have a reputation of being unreliable or only having subpar quality. Aside from having received a problematic cartridge, this can also happen if something went wrong during the installation process or there’s an issue with the printer itself. So before you throw away your compatible cartridge or replace your printer, make the most of it by trying out some of these solutions to your issues!
Cartridge compatibility.
Start with checking if the compatible toner cartridge is from a well-known and reputable brand. Compatible printers are often listed in compatible toner cartridge listings so be sure to check first before you order! HL-2130 printers will need TN 360 or TN 420 compatible toner cartridges. Laser Tek Services offers both cartridges as well as HL-2130 compatible drum units that give you the best value for your money! These cartridges are backed by one year money back guarantee and remarkable customer service that can aid you should you have any concerns.
Installation.
Ensure that you follow the proper installation process when installing the cartridge. Open the front panel and you'll have access to the toner cartridge. You will have to pull it out along with the drum unit. The drum unit is what holds the toner cartridge and fuses the toner powder onto the paper. Release the toner cartridge from the drum unit by holding down the small lever and pulling the cartridge up gently. Prepare the new compatible toner cartridge and place it in the drum unit by gently shaking it or rocking it side to side. Remove the protective covering and put the cartridge in the drum unit. You no longer need to hold down the lever as you push the cartridge into place.
Smudges or lines on prints.
Before you put the drum unit and toner cartridge back in the printer, it is best to clean the corona wire first. A dirty or faulty corona wire will cause errors during printing such as lines on the paper or cause printouts that are blank or covered in color. Luckily, the HL-2130's corona wire is located at the back of the drum unit so it will be easy to clean. Note that a broken corona wire cannot be fixed and the drum unit itself must be replaced.
To clean the corona wire, locate the small tab that can be moved from side to side. This will clean any small debris or dirt on the wire. Slide the small tab back and forth a few times and put it back in its original position so that it doesn't get in the way during printing. To avoid breaking the wire, it is best to use the cleaning tab instead of other items but if it doesn't work by itself, gently sliding over the wire with a cotton bud should help. If you still find some dirt or heavy toner build-up on the wire, it might be best to replace the drum unit with a new one.
You might also want to check out the printer's roller. The paper feed roller and the fuser roller are located inside the printer so you will need to open them up to access them. Check if they are clean and free of any dirt or debris. If they are, then put the printer back together and try printing again. If the rollers are dirty, clean them with a soft, dry cloth. Be sure to unplug the printer first before you start cleaning it to avoid any accidents. Be careful not to touch the roller with your skin as the bodily oils may cause issues when printing.
Low Page Yield.
Many compatible toner cartridges boast a page yield that is cheaper than the competition. However, some users find that their compatible cartridge doesn't last as long as they thought it would. If you are getting fewer prints than you expect, try using the Draft mode or Toner Save mode when printing documents that don't need to be high quality. These modes will help you conserve toner. HL-2130 has a Toner Save Mode that you can turn on by selecting it in the printer menu. This is normally turned off by default.
It is also possible that the compatible cartridge you are using is a low-quality one. As mentioned earlier, be sure to check if the compatible toner cartridge is from a reputable brand. If not, it might be best to switch to a compatible cartridge that has better reviews.
Conclusion
No matter what compatible toner cartridge you use, it is inevitable that you will run out of toner at some point. When this happens, simply buy a new compatible cartridge and follow the installation process mentioned earlier. With proper care and maintenance, your compatible toner cartridge should give you high-quality prints that will last for a long time. With that, you can continue to use your trusty Brother HL-2130 printer with no worries!
