Brand New MFP M479fdw printer is "cleaning printer" after every 2 pages

[Alan1976]

I just bought a Laser Jet Pro MFP M479fdw and had high expectations as it was replacing my office jet pro 8600 that I have had for probably 7 years.  However, I haven't had this printer for 2 days and I am already having issues with it.  I am printing invoices on half-pages from tray 1, and the printer says "cleaning printer" or something like that after every 2 pages that it prints.  It takes it probably 20 seconds each time to finish the process and print another 2 pages.  Then it does it again.  What's the deal here?  Did I just get a dud?

[Repairatrooper]

make sure that you have the paper sizes set properly, do not use any size setting, especially  if using smaller paper as this can trigger excessive cleanings as the printer thinks that it may have dumped toner inside the printer and runs a cleaning cycle to ensure quality prints.

[Alan1976]

This doesn’t really work. There is no preset size that is for 1/2 sheet of 8.5x11. I tried using “any custom size” but it would default back to tray 2. I guess I’m going to have to call HP or return the printer I guess. 

[ALS-77]

Any time the printer feels like it did not feed the paper correctly, like a paper jam or mis-pick/feed problem or if it detects an improper paper size event where a page goes through and it's expecting one size but gets another, the printer will go into a Cleaning phase.

If you're using the paper cassette, make sure the paper guides are set correctly, but not too tightly (1/16" gap should be OK), to hold the paper at the end of the cassette where the pickup rollers are so the roller gets good contact with the paper. Next, make sure you're setting the paper size of the paper correctly within the printer and in the computer as well so it doesn't get a different size than what it is expecting.