Refilling the toner cartridges for the Lexmark MS317 and MX317 series (including MS417, MS517, and MX417) is an excellent way to reduce office printing costs. These machines are known for their durability, but their consumables use regional coding that you must follow: 51B2000 for Europe and 51B1000 for North America.
In this guide, we will walk you through the refill process shown in our video. Furthermore, we will explain why maintaining the imaging unit (drum) is just as important for maintaining professional print quality.
The Refill and Maintenance Process
- Preparation: First, locate the refill plug on the side of the toner hopper. In our video, we demonstrate exactly how to open it without damaging the plastic casing.
- Refilling the Toner: Subsequently, carefully pour in the specialized high-density monochrome toner powder. Consequently, ensure you do not overfill the cartridge to allow the internal mixing paddles to rotate freely.
- Replacing the Smart Chip: To ensure the printer recognizes the refilled cartridge, you must replace the smart chip. However, make sure the chip matches your specific region (51B2000 for Europe / 51B1000 for USA), otherwise, you will see an “Unsupported Cartridge” error.
- Checking the Imaging Unit: While the cartridge is removed, inspect the 50F0Z00 imaging unit. If the green drum surface has scratches or spots, even a full toner cartridge will not produce clean prints.
- Final Cleaning: Finally, wipe any excess powder from the cartridge before reinserting it into the printer to keep the internal sensors clean.
Recommended Hardware & Replacement Units
While refilling is a great DIY option, many professional environments prefer the reliability of a full unit replacement. Here are our top recommendations:
- High-Yield Toner (USA/Canada): Lexmark 51B1H00 (High Yield) — The best value for North American MS/MX 317-517 series.
- High-Yield Toner (Europe): Lexmark 51B2H00 (High Yield) — The original high-capacity choice for European models.
- Essential Component: Lexmark 500Z Imaging Unit (50F0Z00) — The universal drum unit compatible with all MS and MX models in this series.
- Reliable Office Paper: Premium Office Paper — Optimized for high-speed laser printing to prevent jams.
- Modern Printer Upgrade: Lexmark Printers — The latest generation successors. They offers faster speeds, better security, and a more compact design for modern offices.
Expert Tip
If your Lexmark printer still shows “Toner Low” after installing a new cartridge, ensure that you have removed all the protective orange shipping materials. Furthermore, we always recommend replacing the imaging unit at the same time as every 3rd or 4th toner cartridge to ensure the best possible performance.
Looking for more professional tips? Check our guides on Kyocera TK-5240 Solutions or How to Fix Windows Printer Error 0x0000011b.
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