HP4M manual feed tray won't shut/open properly

D

Dan_Musicant

I've had this printer over 10 years - bought it used from a guy who
swore it had only printed about 20 prints. He's probably right. It was
"as new."

Never had a problem with it I couldn't fix - basically just paper jams
and similar. Never had it serviced in any way. Only used maybe 6-7 toner
cartridges with it.

Suddenly today, after printing off a couple hundred Manual Feed prints,
the manual feeder got jammed. I guess maybe I was too harsh with it when
trying to close it. It's always seemed a little weird to open and
close, balky - probably the design.

The first problem was that the tongue-like pull-out projection that you
have to pull out after swinging the door down wouldn't push all the way
back in when I tried to close it all back. It stuck out maybe 1/8 to 1/4
inch too far to allow the door to close the last bit. I had to force it
to get it in. When I finally got both sides of that in so the manual
feed door would close flush, I found that I couldn't open the door back
up. It only opens a couple of inches and I have to force it to get it
that far. It closes OK now, but I can't open it: something seems wrong
as if something doesn't fit in its groove anymore.

The printer turns on and the self test doesn't show a problem. Is it
relatively simple to get in there and check it out and figure out what's
evidently misaligned, out of it's socket or bent? When I try to pull
open the manual feeder door, I can see on both ends that the plastic
nubs that fit in holes are being twisted (evidently the hinge
mechanism). IOW, their axis angle should be perpendicular to the hole,
but as I try to pull the door down the nubs get more and more deformed
from the axis. That's the only clue I have at this point to what's going
on. I assume I have to figure out a way to get in there and take that
assembly apart and see what's amiss. Any hints, tips, clues very much
appreciated!

Dan
 
D

Dan_Musicant

Fixed it! The pull-out tongue's alignment nub (not the one I discussed
for the door itself) had jumped it's groove. I forced it back in. Could
be it's been out of its groove ever since I bought it. Maybe that's why
that guy sold it to me. I'm probably dreaming. Anyway, it's fixed now!
 

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