The Solution
One thing you should always do is clean the three paper feed rollers. To do
this, take out the paper, get a moist cloth, and wipe them strongly.
Don't use alcohol. It's better to use plain water, because alcohol gets
into the rubber and can wash out the rubber softeners, making the rubber
harder, which is not what we want. So use a cloth that is moist, but not
dripping, with water.
While you wipe one roller, push down on another with a finger and turn the
rollers around slowly, so every bit of them is cleaned. Don't forget the
narrow center rollerit also has a small rubber surface.
Sometimes this brings the printer back to work, but after more use and more
time it usually doesn't. The remaining reason why the stupid thing doesn't
feed paper is that the two springs pushing the paper against the rollers are
too soft to begin with and, moreover, lose some of their spring force over
time.
The springs have an outer diameter of 15 mm. If you can get some similar
springs that are somewhat stronger, but under no circumstances more than twice
as strong, replace the springs. If not, there is another way.
Since the springs are much longer than they need to be, you can take them
out, cut them exactly in the middle, then use two of the fragments in place of
one. In addition you can stretch them somewhat.
Step by Step Instructions
You need only an ordinary screwdriver and pliers to cut the springs.
- Remove the paper and the two cables from the printer and turn it around,
so you can look into the paper tray.
- Push the expendable paper holder in, so it's out of the way.
- Use your thumb to bend the inner paper guide forcefully forward and to
the left, until it bends enough to slip out of the right bearing hole.
- Then pull it to the right to take it out of the left bearing hole as
well. It should now move forward a little and allow you to see the two
springs.
- To make even more room to work on the springs, reach for one of the
rubber rollers and turn it down (i.e. rotate the roller downward), until the
mechanism opens the gap fully.
- Use the screwdriver and one finger to shift the springs out of the lower
hole and push them onto the conical rest on the inner paper guide you have
just loosened, then pull them out. Don't use so much force that you bend
them permanently.
- Remember the length, then stretch both springs and let go again, until
they are about one inch, no more, longer than they were. Repeat the
stretching and increase the force until you have stretched them enough. This
is actually not all that important, so don't overdo it.
- Take one spring and turn it such that you can cut at the exact middle of
the spring. Cut the spring in half. Repeat with the other spring.
- Roll two fragments into one, so you get two shorter, but double springs.
- Use your finger and perhaps the screwdriver to push each double spring
onto the conical spring guide on the loose paper guide, then maneuver the
lower end of each spring into the hole on the lower side, so the springs are
in place again.
- Push on the loose paper guide from above to check that the springs are
properly seated and move correctly.
- Push the loose paper guide into its bearing holes again, first left,
then right. For the right side you have to bend it again strongly, so you
can get the paper guide back into place.
- Before you test the printer, switch it on once without paper, so the
rollers move back into their normal parking position.
- Put the paper back in and test the printer. Enjoy!
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