Jam Inside, Jam Rear – Brother MFC 8510, 8710, 8910, 8950
Troubleshooting Tips for the Jam Inside, Jam Rear Messages on the  Brother MFC 8510, 8710, 8910, 8950
Yet another problem that is happening with the new style fusing assembly in these models is the Jam Inside, Jam Rear Message. Like I mentioned in other articles, these new fusing units are using a different technology then what we find on previous 8000 models. Instead of using a hot roller and lamp, they are now using a heating element and fixing sleeve. In order for the sleeves to rotate correctly several things have to work in unison. Now Brother has changed the lower pressure roller and the new ones have wrinkles pre-formed in the surface for improved grip on the sleeve. I decided to take one apart the other day and found the lubricant inside the sleeve had gotten really dirty and gummy. I’m unsure if Brother is addressing this part of the unit but I believe they should be looking for another grease to lubricate these sleeves as this is another area of concern for me.
The sleeve is driven by the pressure roller and pressure. If the pressure roller is too slick or the sleeve has problems moving then you have a sleeve rotating at a slower speed or not rotating at all. If the sleeve is rotating at a slower speed you usually get fuzzy or blurred print. Depending on your customer they might not even notice. Most times it either looks like a toner or drum issue. Now if the sleeve fails to rotate then when the paper hits the fusing assembly two things can happen. Either the additional force allows the film to start to rotate and the paper might feed through with blurred or fuzzy print or in cases like the Jam Inside, Jam Rear messages the paper might start to feed in but stop half way through, get an inch inside the fusing assembly, or just plain stop right at the front of the fusing assembly.
Genuine Brother MFC-8510, 8710, 8910, 8950DWT Fuser Unit – 120 Volt
If the paper stops at the front or makes it an inch or two in the fusing assembly without hitting the exit sensor then you will get the Jam Inside error and when you open the front cover and remove the drum and toner you will see the paper just sitting there and it probably will be a little bunched up and the top might be stuck an inch or two in the fusing assembly. If the paper hits the exit sensor then you will get a Jam Rear message. When this happens I see it jam anywhere from the just hitting the sensor or almost making it out of the top of the machine. In this case it will appear to jam as it exits out the machine but you will see the signature fuzzy or blurred print.
In either case you probably are looking at replacing the fusing assembly for the problem. I mean if it happens once or twice and you don’t have blurred or fuzzy print then I would say paper jams happen. However, if you have a constant jam issue or if it is happening on a daily basis then I would say it’s time to check the fuser out. First, the fuser should have wrinkles on the sides of the lower black pressure roller and should be smooth in the middle. Now you can remove the fusing assembly and rotate the pressure roller and see if the sleeve rotates but that is not a for sure sign you have a sleeve problem. I’ve seen sleeves not rotate outside machines but work find when the machine is operating at print speeds.
Just had this problem after only two years and light use. A horrible weak link. What a shame. Anyone know the specific previous 8000 models that used the hot roller and lamp vs this new heating-element-fixing-sleeve technology? Please list here if you do. Thanks!
I’m glad I found this site. I have a Brother mfc881 that was giving me the fusser replacement message at 100,000 copies. I meant to get around to replacing the fuser, but had to wait until I couldn’t use the machine due to constant paper jams. Before I ordered a fuser I cleaned the fuser and film sleeve and reinstalled it. No more paper jams, but terrible print. I ordered a new fuser, installed it and that’s when my troubles really began. I began receiving messages like “Fuser error”, “Print Unable DE” “close rear door” “self Diagnostic” etc.Brother walked me through their script, and came to the conclusion that I needed to take it to an authorised Brother service center. (Out of warranty, of course). Here is my question. the eject sensor PCB is located right underneath the fuser, with a white and red connector. the white connector seems loose, likely a result of my disconmecting and connecting a number of times. Could a bad connection on that board result in the messages I have received??? And exactly what does the eject sensor do??? Any answers, right or wrong will be greatly appreciated.
Have had to solder a few of those, they come loose/break off the board very easily.
My printer is jamming constantly now. (MFC 8910) so is it the fuser unit or the paper eject /relay board that needs to be replaced?