HP printer is not picking up paper

[Todd]

I have an HP DeskJet 890C printer that still prints well, and even has
drivers available for Vista.

I like it, and don't want to replace it if I don't have to. It uses the HP
23 color cartridge, and HP 45 Black cartridge which hold a lot more ink than
the new cartridges.

The problem is that it struggles to pick up each sheet of paper. Sometimes
it can't pick it up at all, and reports that the printer is out of paper.

Has anybody fixed this problem? Can you take the printer apart and clean or
replace whatever part picks up the paper?

Todd

 

[Paul]

I have an HP DeskJet 890C printer that still prints well, and even has
drivers available for Vista.

I like it, and don't want to replace it if I don't have to. It uses the HP
23 color cartridge, and HP 45 Black cartridge which hold a lot more ink than
the new cartridges.

The problem is that it struggles to pick up each sheet of paper. Sometimes
it can't pick it up at all, and reports that the printer is out of paper.

Has anybody fixed this problem? Can you take the printer apart and clean or
replace whatever part picks up the paper?

Todd

"HP Deskjet - How to fix a paper jam, grinding noise, or carriage
stall on 890, 870, 850, and 820 series printers"

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...dlc=en&product=58743&lang=en&docname=bpd09144

Paul

 

[kony]

I have an HP DeskJet 890C printer that still prints well, and even has
drivers available for Vista.

I like it, and don't want to replace it if I don't have to. It uses the HP
23 color cartridge, and HP 45 Black cartridge which hold a lot more ink than
the new cartridges.

The problem is that it struggles to pick up each sheet of paper. Sometimes
it can't pick it up at all, and reports that the printer is out of paper.

Has anybody fixed this problem? Can you take the printer apart and clean or
replace whatever part picks up the paper?

Todd

Does the paper get (begin to be) picked up out of the paper
tray at all? Does it move into the body of the printer at
all or just stay in place in the paper tray?

The most common problem is a dirty (or in some cases, old,
hardened rubber) pickup roller(s). Even in a clean
environment, fibers off uncoated paper will accumulate over
time.

In other cases there may be a paper sensor switch that is
broken, from a plastic spring tab that was too fragile for
long term use (IMO), or the spring itself broke. Other
times a gear or belt to the pickup mechanism has worn out,
you should check on whether the feed is spinning and has
reasonable torque or just slips easily with any resistance
(but do so carefully).

It could be a stuck part or the paper width setting but
these seem unlikely if it otherwise was working without
change by the user and isn't making funny (or lack of
normal) sounds.

Essentially the technique is to look at the mechanics
involved and just note if all are working as expected, and
use the exploded parts illustrations and a little first-hand
visual investigation to see how to take it apart if
necessary.

 

[Todd]

Thanks Paul I used the "Clean paper drive rollers " procedure, and it seems
to have done the trick. I thought that getting to the drive rollers would
be a lot more complicated than it was.

Todd

 

[Todd]

It was the drive rollers. I used the HP "Clean paper drive rollers"
procedure that Paul linked to.

Step number 9 of the procedure is "If you notice that the rollers are very
hard, take your printer to a printer service technician to see if you need
new rollers."

I don't know what the rubber rollers should feel like, but they seemed firm
to me. I think that they probably have hardened, but when I cleaned them
with a clean cloth and water, they started working again, so it's okay for
now.

We'll see how long this solution works. If it works for a reasonable period
of time and then stops working, I'll do it again. If it doesn't work very
long, I'll look first into trying to get replacement drive wheels, and then
figure out how to replace the drive wheels.

Todd

 

[OhNo]

It was the drive rollers. I used the HP "Clean paper drive rollers"
procedure that Paul linked to.

Step number 9 of the procedure is "If you notice that the rollers are very
hard, take your printer to a printer service technician to see if you need
new rollers."

I don't know what the rubber rollers should feel like, but they seemed
firm
to me. I think that they probably have hardened, but when I cleaned them
with a clean cloth and water, they started working again, so it's okay for
now.

We'll see how long this solution works. If it works for a reasonable
period
of time and then stops working, I'll do it again. If it doesn't work very
long, I'll look first into trying to get replacement drive wheels, and
then
figure out how to replace the drive wheels.

Todd

my 5 year old Epson 1520 started doing that so I got an A4 sheet of 1000
grit wet and dry and inserted it in the paper tray, as if it were a piece of
paper. I then pressed paper feed but held the wet and dry just as it entered
the rubber rollers, stopping it from being drawn in but letting the
pinchrollers run on the w&d. The rollers slipped on the wet and dry which
took the dirty surface off. Its been great ever since.

 

[Dave C.]

my 5 year old Epson 1520 started doing that so I got an A4 sheet of 1000
grit wet and dry and inserted it in the paper tray, as if it were a piece
of paper. I then pressed paper feed but held the wet and dry just as it
entered the rubber rollers, stopping it from being drawn in but letting
the pinchrollers run on the w&d. The rollers slipped on the wet and dry
which took the dirty surface off. Its been great ever since.

What a good idea! It probably took off just a little of the roller shine
that happens over the years. Did you dampen it a little or did you put it
in dry? I am making a note of this. I had a HP 920 or 9??, and the rollers
were exposed just enough for me to lightly remove the roller surface.

Dave C

 

[Fid]

I have an HP DeskJet 890C printer that still prints well, and even has
drivers available for Vista.

I like it, and don't want to replace it if I don't have to. It uses the HP
23 color cartridge, and HP 45 Black cartridge which hold a lot more ink than
the new cartridges.

The problem is that it struggles to pick up each sheet of paper. Sometimes
it can't pick it up at all, and reports that the printer is out of paper.

Has anybody fixed this problem? Can you take the printer apart and clean or
replace whatever part picks up the paper?

Older HPs had a problem picking up paper too. In early models, the rubber
pickup rollers had a tendancy to glaze up, reducing friction.
Have you tried cleaning the pickup rollers?

 

[Todd]

Thanks OhNo,

When it starts to have trouble picking up paper again, which eventually it
certainly will, I'll try that

Todd

 

[Todd]

I have now, and it worked. I used an HP procedure that Paul linked to.

Thanks

Todd

 

[paulmd]

I have an HP DeskJet 890C printer that still prints well, and even has
drivers available for Vista.

I like it, and don't want to replace it if I don't have to. It uses the HP
23 color cartridge, and HP 45 Black cartridge which hold a lot more ink than
the new cartridges.

The problem is that it struggles to pick up each sheet of paper. Sometimes
it can't pick it up at all, and reports that the printer is out of paper.

Has anybody fixed this problem? Can you take the printer apart and clean or
replace whatever part picks up the paper?

Todd

Inkjets that age aren't economical to fix.

 

[Rod Speed]

Inkjets that age aren't economical to fix.

Clearly was in his case.

 

[Todd]

Since it took me about 5 minutes to fix it and cost me nothing, it was quite
economical to fix.

Todd