The HP Q7551X (51X) is a high-capacity toner cartridge designed for the legendary HP LaserJet P3005 and M3035 MFP series. Known for its massive 13,000-page yield, this cartridge is a favorite for high-volume office printing. To maintain its performance, proper cleaning and refilling techniques are essential.
In this guide, we will show you the step-by-step refill process. However, to ensure peak reliability and avoid leaks in these heavy-duty machines, we highly recommend investing in high-quality replacement units.
Disassembly and Refill Steps
- Opening the Cartridge: First, you must remove the side pins to separate the toner hopper from the waste bin section. Our video demonstrates the precise location of these pins at [01:35].
- Cleaning the Waste Toner: Subsequently, it is critical to empty the waste toner compartment. Given the high yield of the 51X, a full waste bin will quickly cause grey backgrounds or vertical lines on your documents.
- Refilling the Hopper: Carefully open the refill cap and pour in the specialized high-yield monochrome toner powder. Use only powder designed for the P3005 series to maintain crisp black text.
- Cleaning the Doctor Blade: Additionally, wipe the doctor blade to ensure an even distribution of toner on the magnetic roller.
- Final Assembly: Finally, re-pin the cartridge halves together. While these older HP models often don’t require a chip for basic printing, we recommend a new chip for accurate toner level tracking.
Recommended HP 51X Supplies & Hardware
For professional results and minimal maintenance, we suggest using these reliable replacement options:
- High-Yield Replacement: HP Q7551X (51X) High Yield Black Toner – The original standard for reliability and performance in P3005 printers.
- Maintenance Essential: HP LaserJet P3005 Maintenance Kit – Includes the fuser and rollers to keep your legacy printer running like new.
- Cleaning Tool: Microfiber Toner Cloths – Safe for cleaning the delicate magnetic roller and drum surface.
- Modern Successor: HP LaserJet Pro – If your P3005 is finally reaching the end of its life, this is the modern, fast, and secure replacement.
Expert Tip
The HP P3005 series is sensitive to “paper dust” buildup. Furthermore, always check the fuser unit if you notice the toner is smearing or not sticking to the page. A healthy Q7551X cartridge works best when the printer’s internal rollers and fuser are also clean.
Looking for more office equipment guides? Check our tutorials on Lexmark E260X22G Maintenance or Fixing Windows Printer Error 0x0000011b.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.