Disconnected plastic ribbon on HP 7610

[EREY]

I cleared a paper jam from the inside and inadvertently disconnected the plastic ribbon that the carriage rides on, at the left side of the printer. The right side is still connected. Please advise!

[Valsimot]

Probably calibration strip got hooked off on the left side. There is no easy way to get it back in place, you will hardly do it with your hand without printer disassembly.

If it looks like this that is the calibration ( encoder) strip:

[EREY]

You are 100% correct, that’s the culprit!!! Is there hope for reattaching it if it take off the right side panel, and darn it , where does it attach on the left side? It is not obvious.

The machine is otherwise perfectly fine, so it’s worth it to fix it  if I can! 

Thank you for taking the time to respond. 

[Valsimot]

It's complicated to describe with words and to disassemble to get it back.  There is no tool to do it without disassembly, When you theard it the right way you will see where it hooks back.

Try to find a YT video if you want to accept challenges with the repair.

[EREY]

And… a professional may be able to fix it then… any suggestions for repair shops in Los Angeles?