Fixing broken plastic

[Green Balls]

Alright, I finally took the printer apart and fixed the broken gear. I melted a staple into the plastic. The rod the gear is on turns like it should, but the printer is still giving the paper jam error. I did a reset on the printer to restore it to manufacturer settings and the issue remains. So I'm considering this one a combination hardware/software issue.

Oh well. At least I learned how to tear another printer apart and put it back together. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, but it did take 5 hours to get it apart.

So anyone with an HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless, if you get a paper jam error and the gear is broke, just toss it.

 

[Excon]

Alright, I finally took the printer apart and fixed the broken gear. I melted a staple into the plastic. The rod the gear is on turns like it should, but the printer is still giving the paper jam error. I did a reset on the printer to restore it to manufacturer settings and the issue remains. So I'm considering this one a combination hardware/software issue.

Oh well. At least I learned how to tear another printer apart and put it back together. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, but it did take 5 hours to get it apart.

So anyone with an HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless, if you get a paper jam error and the gear is broke, just toss it.

I will assume that you made sure the staple you used didn't interfere with it's turning, so I will ask if it is possible if there was another cracked gear, also assuming you did a thorough inspection.


I had a monitor go out in which to repair, I replaced the capacitors. They being the issue.
It got stuck in a factory test pattern with no known fix. Which is apparently a common occurrence.

**** happens.

 

[Green Balls]

I will assume that you made sure the staple you used didn't interfere with it's turning, so I will ask if it is possible if there was another cracked gear, also assuming you did a thorough inspection.


I had a monitor go out in which to repair, I replaced the capacitors. They being the issue.
It got stuck in a factory test pattern with no known fix. Which is apparently a common occurrence.

**** happens.

I gave it a good look over when I had it apart. The broken gear had a removable plastic casing. I made sure it could move freely before I put it back together. I am wondering if this might have been an intentional software glitch on HP's behalf to trick consumers into buying a new printer. I don't want to say consumer fraud, but companies are focused on making the almighty dollar these days.

I'm also debating if it's worth putting a tutorial together for others interested in taking apart this printer. I took pictures each step of the way, I just need to add highlights for which screws have to come out and pointers for clips to unfasten. I don't have a decent camera so some pics have a slight haze, but you can still see what you need to do. I've written technical documentation many times, so that's no big deal. If other people are going to have the same issue, then I don't think it's worth wasting their time tearing it apart and fixing the gear.

 

[Excon]

I gave it a good look over when I had it apart. The broken gear had a removable plastic casing. I made sure it could move freely before I put it back together. I am wondering if this might have been an intentional software glitch on HP's behalf to trick consumers into buying a new printer. I don't want to say consumer fraud, but companies are focused on making the almighty dollar these days.

I wouldn't think so as it was pointed out in one of those links that an individual was able to fix his problem by gluing it to the shaft.
I figured that what he meant by "fix" was that it was working again.