epson 825 wont feed paper

My 5 year old epson 825 stopped feeding paper. I searched the net for
instructions on how to fix it but found nothing. Here is how I did it.

I have a trusty old epson 825. It stopped feeding paper. It sounded
like it wanted to feed paper as it was making all the usual happy
noises but one was missing: that hard snap it makes when the white
back plate shoves the paper stack forward into the feed roller.

I thought I could figure it out if I could disassemble the epson 825
printer. Removing the top cover on the epson 825 was the hardest part.
There are 3 screws on the back, and 2 under the flip up top lid.

Once those are removed, the top cover will still be locked on. The
secret is to grab the one inch thick plastic cross bar beam that goes
across the front of the printer above the paper exit slot. Pull
outward firmly, one side at a time. You have to bend the front of the
printer cover out toward you about 6 millimeters until two little
white plastic tabs pull out of the slots on the front of the bottom of
the printer. If this doesn't work. Shine a flashlight inside left and
right and you will see the white tabs clearly. You can even jam them
outward toward you with a long screwdriver from the inside. The top
case is pretty tough and can take some abuse. The printer is 5 year
old garbage anyway if you don't do it, so nothing to loose.

Once you get the cover off be careful to note where the ribbon cable
connects as you will be almost certain to yank it out of it's socket.
There is a metal safety switch spring that prevents the printer from
running with the cover off. You'll need to jump that to the lcd
circuit board with some bent baling wire to make it run with cover
off.

Plug it back in and hook it up. (Note: cover has to be propped nearby
on it's side and jumped with a wire to safety switch spring before you
do that.)

Try to print. If it makes happy noises, but white feeder plate doesn't
snap forward to load paper. Shine a flashlight down the inbound paper
path from back. You will see a little tiny black spring finger. This
is a sensor that feels when paper is going through. Push it up a
couple times to reset it's action with a long skinny flat bladed
screw driver.

I'm not sure why, but this finally fixed mine. Reassemble
printer...leaving extra screws off (in case you have to do it again)
and you are back in business. Oh, you may have to clear the printer
que. Start>printers>epson 825>cancel print jobs. I took pictures of
the process, I'll send them to you if you contact me at www.websterart.com

fixing things is fun!

"websterart dotcom" <markhwebster@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b832e1d8-fc80-405b-8e43-292696c399f4@z72g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> My 5 year old epson 825 stopped feeding paper. I searched the net for
> instructions on how to fix it but found nothing. Here is how I did it.
>
> I have a trusty old epson 825. It stopped feeding paper. It sounded
> like it wanted to feed paper as it was making all the usual happy
> noises but one was missing: that hard snap it makes when the white
> back plate shoves the paper stack forward into the feed roller.
>
> I thought I could figure it out if I could disassemble the epson 825
> printer. Removing the top cover on the epson 825 was the hardest part.
> There are 3 screws on the back, and 2 under the flip up top lid.
>
> Once those are removed, the top cover will still be locked on. The
> secret is to grab the one inch thick plastic cross bar beam that goes
> across the front of the printer above the paper exit slot. Pull
> outward firmly, one side at a time. You have to bend the front of the
> printer cover out toward you about 6 millimeters until two little
> white plastic tabs pull out of the slots on the front of the bottom of
> the printer. If this doesn't work. Shine a flashlight inside left and
> right and you will see the white tabs clearly. You can even jam them
> outward toward you with a long screwdriver from the inside. The top
> case is pretty tough and can take some abuse. The printer is 5 year
> old garbage anyway if you don't do it, so nothing to loose.
>
> Once you get the cover off be careful to note where the ribbon cable
> connects as you will be almost certain to yank it out of it's socket.
> There is a metal safety switch spring that prevents the printer from
> running with the cover off. You'll need to jump that to the lcd
> circuit board with some bent baling wire to make it run with cover
> off.
>
> Plug it back in and hook it up. (Note: cover has to be propped nearby
> on it's side and jumped with a wire to safety switch spring before you
> do that.)
>
> Try to print. If it makes happy noises, but white feeder plate doesn't
> snap forward to load paper. Shine a flashlight down the inbound paper
> path from back. You will see a little tiny black spring finger. This
> is a sensor that feels when paper is going through. Push it up a
> couple times to reset it's action with a long skinny flat bladed
> screw driver.
>
> I'm not sure why, but this finally fixed mine. Reassemble
> printer...leaving extra screws off (in case you have to do it again)
> and you are back in business. Oh, you may have to clear the printer
> que. Start>printers>epson 825>cancel print jobs. I took pictures of
> the process, I'll send them to you if you contact me at www.websterart.com
>
> fixing things is fun!

Congratulations !

Sounds like you have the skills and gumption for an additional
occupation if you continue life in this manner.
--
Jan Alter
bearpuf@verizon.net
or
jalter@phila.k12.pa.us