How did I brake my Pixma TS8350 by lubricating it?

[Pixman]

Hey guys!

I managed to break my Pixma TS8350 last night by spraying a bit of synthetic adhesive lubricant at the back where the motor and main gears are.



I did this to quite it down because it was making annoying noises as if running dry, and I didn't want to undertake the big operation of disassembling everything (presumably) to get to this mechanism where the noise was coming from.

Now it runs so smoothly and loudly when I run the roller cleaning function, it complains that there is a paper jam and only gives me error code after error code. First it said error code 1300, i.e. paper jam. But there was no paper in it at the time. I was spraying it while running the roller cleaning function.

The original noises went away, but new noises came, and like I said it is now even louder sometimes. After a power cycle and unplugging and reinserting the cord, the error remained. But it didn't show at first, only after entering roller cleaning function or if the printer did something on its own to provoke it. I did another power cycle, and tried to print some text from Word, and it started giving me error code 6A80. After this, it started giving me the same error code every time I power cycle, and it prints a blank paper every time. As if it's a left over from last time it's trying to print.

So now I face either a service charge to have it repaired or buy a new printer. I might be able to repair it on my own if I knew what to do, especially about these error codes. All the error code 6A80 says is to cancel the print (there is none) and to power cycle (which I already did), and if that fails, it says to contact a service center.

What would cause this? I inadvertently sprayed some paper jam sensor or something? Can I get to these gears at the back from the side? So I can wipe it clean and apply some proper grease? What kind of grease do they use?

 

[x64]

I usually use either PTFE lube on sliding parts and synthetic grease on gears. What kind of crazy product did you use, adhesive grease, that sounds like two opposites.

If you think you smudged the sensors you should clean those, don't disassemble everything straight away, try to reach the parts that you think are affected and clean those.

Remember for the future that (carelessly) spraying into a machine is never a good idea, and have a understanding what kind of lubricant you need for your application.

 

[Pixman]

How does a printer know there is a paper jam? Do they have sensors for that? Are they located at the back, near the motor? I'm assuming the layout of most of these consumer printers are the same.

I totally agree that careless spraying and not using the right lubricant can have consequences. As I have learned this time. Let it be a lesson for all. But I did try to be mindful about my choice of lubricant. I could have chosen something much worse. I do in fact have an interest in lubricants, and I'm a firm believer in using the right product for the right job. I know how underappreciated the world of lubricants is, it's really a something that keeps our mechanical world spinning. But in this instance I failed miserably.

I used Presto Synthetic Adhesive Lube. It's called adhesive when it's not runny, so it doesn't drip. So it's not oily, it's sticky and turns into grease. So it's like spray grease. It contains PTFE (many lubricants have this as an additive today), and it's O-ring neutral and friendly for plastics.

From the can:

Spray grease to lubricate mechanical parts of metal or plastic. Prevents wear and sticking. Outstanding mechanical and thermal stability. Water-repellent. Absorbs sound and prevents from corrosion.

I will have another look at it, and see if I can access it and clean it with some cotton swabs maybe or similar. But I'm afraid disassembly is inevitable. When it prints a blank paper now, as it does automatically on startup now, the paper gets a little wrinkled on one of the short sides. So it's definitely rubbing against something as it passes, something with low clearance or so.

 

[Pixman]

I took apart most of the covers of the printer and the scanner unit. This is what the motors, sensors and those gears look like. So it has not one but two motors? All basic printers have that? One for moving the head and one for moving the paper? Now I know! But what are these small PCB boards with sensors for? Could one of them be a speed sensor? That might explain why the whole thing sounds louder and faster now. If the sensor is blinded.

 

[Pixman]

I took a few more shots to show you where the grease/lubricant ended up. You can see the splatter on this big circular housing or whatever that is (I thought that was some weird gear or lever), behind the two PCB boards.



There is also what appears as a dirt/dust/grease shield next to one of the sensors. I suspect this is the main cause of the problem I have now.



Here is another angle and lighting. You can see the sensor is covered in grease.

 

[Pixman]

Sorry for this noob question, but how do I get to those parts so I can give them a proper cleaning? I still can't reach those sensors in a proper way. I have never disassembled a printer before, this is the first. I never needed to before, and I tried to avoid it this time also (and made a mess). Do I just keep unscrewing until I see the light in the tunnel? Would a service manual help with this? (I honestly doubt that they are that detailed.) I would rather not remove the main PCB board and all that tricky wiring. And also, once I have cleaned it up, will the error code magically disappear or will I need to reset it with the service software?