HP 8600 Plus will not pick up photo paper

[Dougster1]

I called customer support and was told that this printer does not support "double sided paper." I can't beleive this since all the matte paper I buy is considered "double sided" in that you can put it in either side up.

The HP rep said it was ridiculous that double sided paper was even made.

I did discover that I can print with some sample HP thin glossy photo paper. 

This is very disappointing. I suppose I will have to buy very special paper for this expensive printer.

[Dougster1]

I seem to have found a work around. I am using a Mac with iPhoto. In the iPhoto setup, after selecting Print, you have the option of using presets, etc. There is a place to change paper type. None of the photo settings worked, but when I set it to "Cardstock" it took my double sided matte photo paper and printed. This can then be saved as a Preset. I am going to experiment with some of the other paper types to see what works best on a consistent basis.

[AndyinCO]

My 8600 had the same problem. This is sad given what HP used to stand for (We still use an HP Laserjet 1100 made in 1998 and an early calculators).

Anyway, it can be fixed. You need a utility knife and electrical tape (or similar vinyl tape that is thicker than typical scotch tape).

Take out your paper tray and look at the end that sticks in the printer. Notice a small tab that sticks out, and when you press it in the metal frame in the tray pops up. this is what forces the paper in the tray against the anemic feed rollers.

The end of the metal frame has a small ramp stamped and a (in my case) a strip of cork fixed to the end of the frame. Place 6 strips of tape, about 4 inches long, covering the ramp and the cork strip so that you are building up the height of the end of the metal frame. I guess I added 3 mm to the end of the frame before the printer started working, you may need more.

Be sure to trim any tape hanging over the end of the metal frame and test that the frame moved freely up and down in the paper tray before you use it.

Another solution might be beefier springs in the tray but these are conical and I doubt you could easily locate suitable replacements.

[kdorrell]

I also had the problem with the photo papers, but it corrected itself after a few weeks.  It seems that the feed rollers have to be "broken in" by printing a couple of hundred pages before they will pick up the slippery photo paper.  It might be something to do with that chalky surface you sometimes see on new parts.

[Dialing123]

I like the way you think.

[jason_h]

HP has recently released a firmware update for the 8600 series printer.  The firmware has several product fixes/enchancements.  Below is the list:

1) Enhance ePrint Diagnostic report for ePrint Setup
2) Improve ease of wireless setup
3) Enhanced Embedded Web Services
4) Improve Print Quality
5) Improve Ink Usage
6) Improve paper path performance
7) Improve Digital scan performance 

The firmware version is CLP1CN1304AR and was released 2013-03-21.

As mentioned in 6), the paper path performance has been improved and this was directed at printing with Cardstock/Photo Paper in the 8600.  

There are 3 different versions of the 8600 and I will provide links below to the download page for this firmware update for each.

8600 Base (N911a or CM749a)

8600 Plus (CM750a or N911g)

8600 Premium (N911n or CN577a)

For information about how to perform a firmware update in the 8600 click the link below:

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02919168

Let me know the results of updating the firmware and differences with the product's capacity to handle Cardstock/Photo Paper.

[icantride65]

HP's answer once again is just a basic, first thing you do, and none of it helps. You guys just need to be honest with your customers and tell them that the 8600 was not made to pick up quality glossy paper.  In this regard, the 8600 is NOT versatile. It is a shame, because otherwise it is a nice product.  But inflexibility to me is not acceptable.  I had to take it back to Office Max and I got an Epson 845 printer instead.  It is really fast, small footprint, and it picks up any kind of paper.  The print quality on pictures is 3 x better than the Epson.  However, you will have to change ink more often, but you can buy 9 cartridges for $50 at LD products, so, its fine.

    I wish I had seen AndyOnCD's comments before returning my 8600, as that sounded like it might work, because the problem is not all the BS that HP tells you to do, as the problem is a design problem, and they won't admit it. Andy's solution sounds like it is an easy "McGyver"  redesign of crappy engineering.

[Rdwd15]

I updated the firmware and the problem still persists. What is my next step?

[OEW]

I am using HP advance photo paper and clicking on "other specialty papers" worked for me.

[spcheal]

I just bought my 8600 Plus Friday and like so many of you was really upset when I found it would not load the 4 by 6 photo paper. Looks like I may have found a solution....

On the back of the tray is a black button that releases the metal plate inside the tray to raise the paper up. What I found was that if I released the plate and then loaded the tray, when I removed the tray again it was locked down.

With the addition of a short length of scotch tape I was able to force the button to remain in, keeping the plate permanently released and raising the paper up. A little care is needed when loading the tray by holding down the plate until the tray is partially loaded. I was able to print three 4 by 6 with no 'out of paper' errors, reload plain 8.5 by 11 paper, print a two page pdf document (check paper size settings before printing), reload the 4 by 6 photo paper stock almost to the limit and print ten additional photos without a single 'out of paper' error.

This solution may not be elegant but if it resolves the issue that HP seems unwilling or unable to resolve and allows me to use specialty media with my printer I will be satisfied, especially as I already have a second paper tray on order and will be able to leave my photo paper in Tray 1 all the time.

By the way I was able to print on an 8.5 by 11 photo paper by placing the photo paper on top of a stack of plain paper and with the settings still set for 4 by 6. Not sure how or why this worked but since I found the tape solution I do not really care anymore.

Hope this works for many of you too....