I know it's not HP,,,,,but

[MichaelTech]

Nobody goes to the "Other" thread, so I have to put it here. {Just to hear from ya'll}
Epson DFX 8500
Was getting constant ribbon error. Turns out to be the sensor wires twisted over and shorting. But,,now have paper out after three lines on both the front and rear tractors. Both can't have gone at the same time, so I swap the left I/O pcb, no go. It will go to ready, but if you use load or micro buttons to move paper I get the error after 6 inches. No help at Epson, tried talking to a local ASP {we can't be one cause they are so near to us} but did'nt get any info. Web is worthless. Any DFX guru's? Thanx

[prntrfxr]

This is what is supposed to happen, maybe this will help you troubleshoot your problem. I'm not a guru or any expert as I work more in-house and havent seen one of these for a long while.

With paper parked in front tractor and the printer set for Front Load, the printer should always follow this sequence:

1 when LOAD button is pressed on the panel, the paper feed motor engages the tractor mechanism

2 the paper advances until it engages the PE sensor. If the PE sensor detects paper the PF motor backs paper until PE sensor toggles, then advance the paper forward to register the PE sensor.

3 paper thickness is checked multiple times without paper

4 paper is loaded up past Upper Paper End Sensor

5 Paper thickness is checked again with paper loaded

6 paper bail closes

7 paper width is checked

8 paper bail opens and PF motor backs paper down

9 Paper will move to default position - (just below PH) unless top of form has been set from panel, in which case paper will back down to preset position. (if the pull tractor is installed the paper will feed forward instead of back to the TOP)

When you power on and press LOAD, did you get any beeps? If so, how many? Where did the printhead stop? power off and put paper in the tractor. repeat - power up press LOAD, did you get any beeps? If so, how many?

Did you get any E errors?

This will start you off. Let me know what the results are. These machines dont tell you much so you have to use observation to determine cause of problem. Let me know the results of the above troubleshooting. I'll try to help you if I can.:)

[MichaelTech]

Well, I have done the voltage checks for the tractors, and the upper PE sensor.
All check ok. Cant find the PE sensor.
Also, this unit will not go into Alpha settings mode.
I am suspecting a bad main logic, as the errors keep jumping around.
Will let it sit for a while and get a fresh start on it in a few days. Thanx.