HP Photosmart Premium C309a - message says to load paper, but the tray is full.

[cellogilda]

I am trying to print 4x6 photos.  The paper tray is loaded, but when it starts to print, I get a message that the paper tray is empty and that I need to load the paper.  I keep reloading, and it works about once every 5 times.  Please advise.

[Shane_R]

Typically it's a setting somewhere in the software that's off.  This document should help you out.  Let me know what happens.

[Jeff_w4dd]

Kepwords: HP C309 Load Paper Error

If your HP C309 never picks up paper and gives the Load Paper error, it may not be the rollers but the paper pick-up arm.

Using a flashlight, watch the paper pick-up arm decend and see if the rollers are moving.  If they are not moving, then it may be a small gear out of place.  The gear is located on the paper pick-up arm, nearest the front of the copier.

The easiest way to see the gear is from the bottom of printer.  There is small slot in the paper tray (take the paper out, also take out the Output tray) that will allow you to see the gears on the pick-up arm.  The gear in question is on a shaft closest to the front of the printer.  That shaft is smooth, except at one end it has teeth.  The gear has likely slid off of the teeth.  I took a very small amount of epoxy glue and put it on the teeth with a long but tiny screwdriver.  USE A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, like the head of a pin.  Too much glue and it will go in places you don't want.  Slide the gear back onto the teeth and center it over the gear it mates with.  You can actually try putting the gear back on the teeth without the glue just to test the solution first.  My friends printer is back in business.

[J_R_T]

The gear out of place description helped me locate the problem.  With the paper output tray removed and turning the printer upside down, using a flashlight, I could see the top of the gear and using my finger could push it back in place.  Will see how long it stays there without resorting to gluing it.