The Kyocera TK-1150 series is the standard for high-performance monochrome printing in the ECOSYS M2040dn and M2640idw series. While many DIY tutorials suggest drilling holes into the plastic housing, there is a much cleaner, professional method to refill these cartridges that preserves the unit’s integrity and prevents plastic shavings from damaging your printer.
In this guide, we will show you how to refill these units properly. However, please note the critical regional differences in model numbers to ensure you purchase the correct reset chips.
The Professional “No-Drill” Refill Method
- Check Your Regional Model: First, verify your cartridge code based on your location:
- Europe: TK-1150, TK-1160, TK-1170
- USA / North America: TK-1152, TK-1162, TK-1172
- Accessing the Refill Port: Instead of drilling, you can access the internal hopper by carefully removing the side panel. Our video demonstrates the exact leverage points at to avoid snapping the plastic clips.
- Refilling the Toner: Pour the high-quality monochrome toner powder into the hopper. This “no-drill” method ensures that no plastic debris enters the developer unit, extending the life of your machine.
- Region-Specific Chip Replacement: You must replace the reset chip for every refill. Important: Ensure the chip matches your regional code (e.g., a TK-1150 chip for Europe or a TK-1152 chip for the USA). The printer will reject chips from the wrong region.
- Final Assembly: Snap the side cover back into place. For users who prefer a guaranteed result without the manual work, we recommend buying a new high-capacity genuine cartridge.
Recommended Kyocera Supplies (Global)
To maintain the 100,000-page rating of your Kyocera drum, we suggest these official parts:
- High-Yield Replacement (USA): Kyocera TK-1172 Genuine Black Toner – The official 7,200-page cartridge for North American M2040dn printers.
- High-Yield Replacement (Europe): Kyocera TK-1170 Genuine Black Toner – The standard high-capacity option for European models.
- Drum Maintenance: Kyocera DK-1150 Drum Unit – Replace this unit if you see persistent lines or spots on your prints.
- Developer Unit: Kyocera DV-1150 Developer – Essential for maintaining deep black text and even toner distribution.
- Modern Upgrade: Kyocera ECOSYS MFU – A robust, fast monochrome printer that is perfect for scaling small office operations.
Expert Tip
Always double-check the label on your current cartridge before ordering a replacement chip. Furthermore, if you encounter a “Non-genuine toner” warning after refilling, you can usually clear it by holding the Stop and OK buttons for 5 seconds.
Need more Kyocera help? Check our guides on Cleaning the DK-1150 Drum or Kyocera FS-1030D Registration Fix.
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