LaserJet 5000 Pickup Roller Problem 250 Sheet Tray

[Jeff10]

Hi,

I purchased a maintenance kit for my LaserJet 5000 printer from PrinterTechs a little less than 2 years ago. In general, everything has been great.

The problem that I am writing about concerns the 250 sheet tray in which I have 11" X 17" paper loaded. On a pretty regular basis, the paper fails to be pulled completely from the tray. (I really don't use that paper size (or tray) that often, and it's when I get in the middle of a large project like the one I'm involved with now that the problem become a nuisance.)

Basically, when a sheet is loaded to print from the tray, it gets about 3/4" out of the tray before it causes the printer to throw a fault that instructs me to open the top of the printer and then close it. Sometimes that solves the problem momentarily, sometimes it doesn't.

I have tried using a rubber restoration liquid on the pickup roller. This helps; but, it hasn't solved the problem. There seems to be quite a bit of pressure from the tray/spring that holds the paper up against the top of the cassette, almost like the pressure is interfering from the paper feeding out the tray. (I am now running very few blank sheets in the tray to minimize the force of the tray/spring on the paper, and the blue slides that the paper is pushed into.

Can you perhaps share any thoughts on this problem with me? I hate to buy a new tray if all I need is a replacement spring. Or is there something else that I may be missing?

Thanks

Jeff

[Big Al]

Just some stabs in the dark: if the paper has not been used much over time it tends to get a rough, mottled texture, something like parchment. When this happens the rollers have trouble picking it up. Second, sometimes the paper in the tray is too tight. Can you try setting the tray up a bit looser? Next try changing the pickup roller. Sometimes roughing up the roller a bit with with some sandpaper also helps. Get all the grit off before you put the roller back. There are also some fake rollers out there that look like genuine HP parts but do not work as well. If all else fails maybe try a different kind of paper?Let us know what you find.

Al

[Jeff10]

Hi Al,

Thanks for your message.

I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner... I finished the project that required the 11 X 17 paper, so I haven't experienced the problem recently.

One of the things you mentioned sounded especially interesting... and maybe that is what worked the best for me... setting the tray looser. Are you suggesting the side guides, and moving them out away from the paper?

I purchased the HP kit from PrinterTechs, and I have worked to make sure that the pickup roller is in good shape, although I haven't tried roughing it up yet.

There was really a lot of resistance to pulling the paper manually from the sheet tray, so I suspect that loosening up the sides helped quite a bit. (I wish there was a way to reduce the spring tension a little bit, too.)

Thanks again for your input.

Jeff

[Big Al]

It sounds like you fixed it. I have not worked on the HP 5000 much. The problem we have with the
smaller printers is the length adjustment. They have tiny teeth so you can use custom paper sizes.
If someone slams the drawer the paper moves back and then it is late getting to the sensor and gives a false paper jam. Then it gets set too tight and the roller has a problem every few sheets getting it moving out of the tray. The larger paper would also take more force to get it moving.

Generally the paper seems to be happier if there is a small amount of space around the stack.

Good work, thanks for the update.

Al