Frequently Asked Questions

Why order two black cartridges at once instead of waiting for the low-toner warning?

Because the warning rarely arrives at a convenient moment. With this two-cartridge set, one TK897K goes into the machine today and the second stays sealed beside it, so the next swap takes minutes instead of days spent waiting on a delivery.

How do I confirm TK897K is the number my printer actually calls for?

Look at the label on the black cartridge currently inside the machine, or print the supply status page from the panel menu. When either one reads TK897K, this pair is the right order — match the number and ignore cartridge shape, since housings can look alike across models.

Which printers does this two-pack fit?

The FS-C8520MFP, FS-C8525MFP, TASKalfa 205c and TASKalfa 255. All four machines share the same TK897K black cartridge, which is handy when an office runs more than one of them.

How long does each cartridge in the pair last?

Each one is rated at 12,000 pages under standard test coverage. Dense pages — solid fills, heavy graphics, bold coverage — draw toner down faster, so busier machines will land below the rating while text-driven offices come close to it.

How should the spare cartridge be stored while it waits its turn?

Sealed in its box, flat, in a dry cabinet away from direct sunlight and heat. Toner does not dry out the way ink does, so a spare kept this way is still in full condition when its rotation day arrives months later.

What protection covers both cartridges in this set?

Each unit carries a 1-year warranty and free returns for a year, even the one still sealed in the cabinet. Support answers Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST, orders leave warehouses in IL, PA, GA and CA, and the details live on our shipping and returns page.

How can I predict when the second cartridge in the pair will be needed?

Note the machine's page counter and the date on the day the first TK897K goes in, then note the counter again when it empties. That difference is your machine's real consumption rate for a 12,000-page cartridge, and it converts the second cartridge from a guess into a schedule: divide your typical monthly page volume into the first cartridge's measured life and you know roughly which month the spare will be fitted. That is also the moment to place the next order, so a fresh pair is on the shelf before the cycle repeats.

How much printing does the pair hold in total?

Two cartridges at 12,000 rated pages each give you a combined pool of about 24,000 pages of black printing for your FS-C8520MFP, FS-C8525MFP, TASKalfa 205c or TASKalfa 255. Treat that as a planning figure rather than a promise: pages with dense fills and heavy graphics draw the total down, while ordinary letters, forms and reports land close to it. For a small office, 24,000 pages of black can represent many months of everyday document work between orders.

Does it matter which of the two cartridges I fit first?

No. The two TK897K cartridges are identical units with the same rating, so either one can go into the machine today and the other becomes the spare. There is no first and second in any technical sense — no priming order, no pairing between them. The only habit worth keeping is fitting the one whose box you opened first, simply so the remaining sealed cartridge is easy to identify as the unused spare when you look in the cabinet later.

What should I do with the empty cartridge when the spare goes in?

Hold on to it until the newly fitted cartridge has proven itself over a few days of normal printing. If the replacement prints cleanly, the spent unit can leave through your usual office recycling or waste route, ideally back in its carton so no residual toner dust escapes. If the new cartridge misbehaves early, having the old one at hand helps support work through the problem with you, since every unit in this pair carries its own 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns.

About This Two-Pack

Two compatible Kyocera-Mita TK897K black toner cartridges at $203.56 for the FS-C8520MFP, FS-C8525MFP, TASKalfa 205c and TASKalfa 255 — one working in the machine, one sealed as the standing spare. Each cartridge is rated at 12,000 pages, installs in minutes, and is backed by a 1-year warranty with 1-year free returns.