Officejet 6600 does not detect paper

[NWACC]

Printer was working fine, and now does not recognize paper in the tray. Upon attempting to print, the wheels and gears turn for 6 or 7 seconds, before responding 'out of paper'. Wheels are clean. Reset to factory default already. I saw a prior post that the printer does not 'ding' anymore when paper is inserted. 

As I look from the back, upon trying to print, the arm with 2 rollers does extend down onto the stack of paper. However, due to no paper being detected, the wheels never roll to push the paper ahead. Seems the paper sensor, if there is one, is not working.

Help?

[Barachiel]

@NWACC

Thank you for posting on HP Forums, 

Barachiel is at your service. 

I Understand you are in need of support,

And to help you out, I'm sending out a Private message with the required informations,

Keep me posted,

Good Luck. 🙂

[NWACC · Accepted solution]

Finally spoke to HP tech support. They said the printer is toast, and irrepairable as the paper load mechanism has failed with no repair parts available. 

Lame answer IMO. So I started dissassembly.

As it turns out, there is a small gear about 2" inside the paper ejection tray. I've attached a picture using a mirror as the gear is in the roof of the paper outlet area. That black gear had slipped off the metallic spindle. I had to remove the paper ejection tray to have enough room, but was able to push the gear back on the spindle to align it with the other gear. Some glue may have helped but it's easy enough to push it back on if it ever needs it. 

My guess is this is a relatively common problem for 'Paper Empty Error'. Apart from removing the paper tray, no dissassembly is required. Back up and running. 

Too bad HP support can't advise this very easy fix either in the forums or by telephone. 

[sandytechy20]

@NWACC

I see that you were interacting with @KrazyToad and @Barachiel. I'd like to help.

Thanks for the reply.

Good to know that issue is fixed and the printer is working now.

I am sending you a private message. Please check the mailbox icon at the top-right corner of this screen.

I hope this helps resolve this issue completely,

Cheers.