Preserved Topic: Please Help: Laserjet 6L Paperfeed Problem

OK I got me an used HP Laserjet 6L Printer some months ago, which worked just fine,
until recently it started trying to draw in all the paper at once. So now I have to feed it one sheet of paper at a time, which is really annoying!

I heard that one used to be able to get a modified spare part from HP that would fix it, but they don´t produce that anymore since the model of the printer is too old.
Is anyone familiar with this problem and maybe knows another way to fix it?

Any help would be very much apreciated!

MW: thats an awfully specific problem

Have your tried Google? This:
www.google.com/search?q=HP+Laserjet+6L+Printer+feed+problem

gave me this:
www.fixyourownprinter.com/kkg0.html

There are plent of other solutiosn there and it appears that HP have forums so it might help looking in there (have a search as it seems this problem comes up a lot).

[edit: And this might help:

:FAQ: Could you give me some tips for effective searching of the Web?

Good luck]

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Oooh oooh oooh! I have a 6L with the exact same problem! All this time I thought I was the only one. Now we have to find an answer!



Evil in theory, not so much in practice...

Doing a little more legwork, I found this. It appears we aren't the only ones to have this problem. You have to claim by April 8th, 2003, so it looks like there's still time!

[This message has been edited by Wangenstein (edited 03-20-2003).]

but only just! better hop to it!

Bodhi - Cell 617

Emps:
Thanks! And Sorry for not looking it up myself - I´m not new to google but I just didn´t think of it in this case - D´oh!

Wangenstein:
Hmm, the terms are *cough* interesting: You´re not getting the part to fix it, but a 70$ rebate coupon for buying a new HP printer (which one would otherwise be less likely to do after such an experience, ) - or a 35$ coupon (with 60$ minimum purchase) for HP media to use with your still defect Laserjet. Sounds like a screwover to me. Anyway, thanks for digging it up and letting me know I´m not alone!

Think I´ll just buy the part and fix that stuff myself.

UPDATE: Cool, looks like HP UK is sending out repair kits for this problems for FREE!

http://195.92.173.150/en/HP_request_product.asp

quote:

---

Some of our customers who own a LaserJet 6L, LaserJet 3100, LaserJet 3150,
or LaserJet 1100 product may experience increased rates of multifeeds. This
is due to the oxidation and hardening of the rubber separation pad.
Hewlett-Packard has created a Customer Replaceable Separation Pad Kit that
allows the customer to install a new separation pad over the old one in a
matter of minutes and without having to take the printer in for service.
...
No tools are required, and localized instruction sets are supplied with each kit.
Please order the quantity of each kit you require for your products, and
they will be shipped to you free of charge.

---

[This message has been edited by MW (edited 03-20-2003).]

well, I didn't read through all the replies so if someone answered your question I appologize.

Here is the deal. The rollers that push the paper through? Well, yours have flat spots on them. Very common really. My suggestion would go to a place that would sale printer or copiers or something and ask if they can get the part for you. It's not that hard to fix them really. Finding them may be the problem. Actually this happens to almost all if, not all, printers.

Look in the Yellow pages for Office Equipment or Copiers or something like that. Don't worry about places like Office Depot, they won't have it and probably won't even bother with it. Just look for a more independent dealer.

Good luck finding it.

Later,

C:\


~Binary is best~

MW - Looks like you're right. I've had more time to look over the claim info, and, in fact, if you have a 6L and haven't paid to have it repaired (or can't prove that you paid to have it repaired), you only get $20/$10.

Why is it large companies can put out a shoddy product, and then, even when they're found liable, they manage to structure the final offer in such a way that the only people who profit from it are the lawyers?

I suppose the answer to that is... the lawyers... :P

[Edit: Just looked at your bit about HP UK... looks like that might do it. I'm ordering mine right now. Actually, I'm ordering two kits, just in case it continues to be a problem in the future, I can do it one more time.]

[This message has been edited by Wangenstein (edited 03-20-2003).]

[edit]NEVERMIND[/edit]

[This message has been edited by GrythusDraconis (edited 03-20-2003).]

Just following up to see if anyone else got/tried their repair kit from HP?

I got mine about two weeks after I ordered it, but only tried it out today, due to HP's admonition that if you screw it up, you'll need to take it in to get it fixed.

Mine went okay, though I did have to use both kits I ordered and scrape out the first pad I installed after it covered the bottom of the paper feed, blocking any paper from being taken up.

Watch the white cardboard tab you insert into the printer: it seems to want to fold itself over, which will screw up where the pad is placed. IIRC, I had to gently bend the tab forward a little. You should be able to feel if it's trying to fold itself. In that case, pull it out, bend it if you have to, then try again.

If you inspect your printer's paper feed (mine's an 1100, thought it was a 6L) with a flashlight, you should be able to see where the tab will be deposited. After the second attempt, the pad was half-under a pair of white wheels further down the paper's path.

I've test-printed some multi-page documents, and it works fine now, better than it has in a couple of years!

Thanks for that link, MW! It did the trick! [Edit: I wasn't able to get back to the page through the link, but I just went here and found it again. I wended my way through HP's Support pages, no problem.]

[Edit: Despite ordering the wrong tool (the L instead of the T), I still managed to get it to work. We had a 6L at my former job, and that's what I was thinking of when I ordered the tool. Don't be a dumbass like yours, truly! Double check which one you need and which one you're ordering!]

[This message has been edited by Wangenstein (edited 05-12-2003).]

I ordered mine right after visiting this thread and got it within a week. I implemented it immediately and had no trouble following the directions nor had anything go wrong. The printer has been printing without issue since a weeke after this thread was started.

Very cool for a free repair kit, I think.

GrythusDraconis
"I'm sick of hearing that beauty is only skin-deep. That's deep enough. Who wants an adorable pancreas?" - Unknown