HP Officejet 6100 Feed Roller Fix Technique

ID: 204257

Description: The HP Officejet 6100 ePrinter (not the HP ENVY...

Steps:

  1. The HP Officejet ePrinter 6100 (not the Envy 6100) has a defect that stops it from driving the feed rollers properly. You can determine if this is happening by placing a piece of letter paper in it and trying to print.
  2. Hold the tray door as far open as it will go and shine a flashlight into the opening. When it’s time to feed the paper, the rollers will lower onto the paper and either roll to feed the paper or not. If they do not, the flaw has reared its ugly head.
  3. The problem is with a gear that drives the roller assembly, it’s located on a shaft that spans between the two sides and goes across between the paper tray and the output opening. You can see the gear(s) by first, removing the paper tray cover and then using a mirror to look up under the tray.
  4. To remove the tray cover, stick a screwdriver between the tray end and printer housing and pry outward. The printer housing has a tab that bends to release the cover. Once the cover is removed, use an inspection mirror to peer up under the rail that crosses over the tray:
    5. Step image
  5. The gear is question is the smaller one at the middle of the mirror; it’s mounted on the shaft via friction and a spline rolled into the shaft. The image above shows the gear in the correct location, but when faulted, the gear slips to the right until it doesn’t mesh with either the mating gear or with the spline.
  6. Restoring it to the correct position is quite easy, but requires a tool that allows you to press on the gear’s end and to tap it into place. I used an ignition wrench because of its small size and hooked end:
    7. Step image
  7. This shows the printer turned on it’s end so the shaft is vertical and the placement of the wrench:
    8. Step image
  8. Here’s the wrench up close:
  9. You can see the gear teeth just below the wrench. Now, with a small hammer, tap against the wrench handle. It doesn’t take much to move the gear. Be careful to manage your progress so you don’t knock the gear off the other end of the spline. Also, be careful that the teeth mesh as you press it on; if it doesn’t move easily, that may be why.
    10. Step image
  10. Once the two gears are centered with each other, you are ready to go and your printer should feed correctly, at least until the gear slides off again.
  11. I’ve read online that some have determined that the gear is split, which would certainly explain the ease where it slips off. I’m living with the problem until I consume the ink I already own and then this printer goes to the recycle bin and I never buy another HP printer.
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