HP 4200/4300 series family

[sparkyono]

I have a question for the techs at Printer Techs. Do you guys run into a lot of phantom tray 2 paper jams in the 4200/4300 series? It only happens after one page is printed and usually clears by opening and closing tray 2. I cure this by changing the paper pick-up assembly. Am I doing too much? Is there a simpler solution to this issue. I see it in about 50% of these printers that come through our shop here in Balad Iraq.

Brian

[redcow]

You may have a problem with dust.
Try cleaning the rollers.
Make sure the paper isn't jammed into the tray.

[sparkyono]

You may have a problem with dust.
Try cleaning the rollers.
Make sure the paper isn't jammed into the tray.

I should have been more specific. The problem is that it will print one page, then show a tray 2 paper jam, even though there isnt one. All I do is open the draw and close it, then open and close the cartridge access door, and it will then print the next page, and again indicate a jam in tray 2... this happens before it even tries to pick up the paper for the next page. It's not the rollers they are either new, or have been cleaned. If it were the rollers, it would not be picking up the paper at all. I also know that sometimes a shred of paper can get lodged in the flag or sensor behind tray 1, but when this happens, it goes to a paper jam error immediately after initializing and will not print at all.

My fix is to change to paper pick-up assembly (gear box thing) and it solves this issue. My question is, is there something simpler I can do to the paper pick-up assembly or the solenoid that is attached to it to resolve the issue with out replacing the whole paper pick-up assembly?

And you are correct, being in dirty, dusty Iraq does not help. All the printers coming into the shop are filthy beyond belief inside. Maybe I can try to clean the gears on the old pick-up. I dont know if that would help, and I dont know what kind of grease should be re-applied after cleaning.

Just looking for ideas.

Thank you.

Brian

[redcow]

Based on your answer and description, I'm leaning towards the gears being packed with dirt. Replacing the gears is just like cleaning them. Maybe putting a hose with high pressure air to blow out the printer and those gears in particular. Putting grease on the gears in that environment will make the problem worse. Try flushing with WD40.

[cs_steve]

Sometimes those solenoids get sticky, a glue substance that breaks down behind the solenoid's "silencer pad" causes them to stick ... you may be able to clean the solenoid and remove the glue.