MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

[Foo]

I can hear the lift motor moving in 1/2 second movements until it settles in. But if you bump the machine or run paper out of Tray 1 it starts the movements again and starts taking paper from Tray 2. I am having the customer leave Tray 1 slightly popped open to force copies to be picked up from Tray 2.
Things I've tried:
1) Switched out the paper height sensor with Tray 2...didn't change anything at all.
2) Thought the small push button switch behind the drawer on the back wall wasn't depressing far enough and I applied electrical tape to the rear of the drawer to depress the switch further.
That didn't seem to make a difference.
3) Made sure the paper backstop wasn't pushing against the paper keeping it from lifting into position. No change.
4) Tested the lift motor and it moves smoothly and seems fine.

Ideas? This one's got me by the short hairs. My customer has been with me 15+ years and he is an accountant. And tax season is getting ready to start for him. I also am leaving on vacation on the 20th and need to sort this one out soon. With parts delays I'll need to order something pretty quick.

Thanks for taking a look and please leave any ideas you might have!

Thanks
Jeff from STL

[slimslob]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

THe xx50s do not use a switch in the back like their predecessors. Instead it uses a sub-pressure lever and spring. If that spring is weak you will get a problem exactly as you describe.

[Foo]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

Is that the spring that hooks to levers attached to the lift motor.
I remember a 3-4 inch long spring...possibly loops on each end?

Jeff

[Foo]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

Too funny...I have a Tupperware container in my tool bag.
Every time I open it I cuss this crazy spring that pops out.

Guess what spring I'm talking about...just went out and checked, YUP I had one from some other call and kept it "just in case".

It's been in that container several years...never thought I'd need it, but kept it any way.

I'll head back to his office (45 minute drive) on Monday and see if it helps.

BTW I could hear a spring stretching out as the lift moved up. Never made me think to open the back and check that spring.

Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes!

Jeff

[slimslob]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

Is that the spring that hooks to levers attached to the lift motor.
I remember a 3-4 inch long spring...possibly loops on each end?

Jeff

No, it is not the long spring between the lift lever and the lift motor, it is the shorter spring from the lift lever to the sub-pressure lever.

[sandmanmac]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

BTW I could hear a spring stretching out as the lift moved up. Never made me think to open the back and check that spring.

Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes!

Jeff

Please do let us know how it goes, Jeff.
Coincidentally, I had / have seemingly the exact same, and what I thought was simple issue with the same model at one of my customers 5 or 6 months ago.
Tray won't lift at all on it's own, but I can hold the drawer in and it does. I thought for sure it was just the push button at the back. I swapped from tray 2 to tray 1 and no difference.
The springs in the rear appeared to be intact, so I didn't bother with them, but maybe they are "weak"??
They hardly use this machine anymore. It's only used by a single person in their office, and it has 3 other drawers, so they told me not to bother with it, but I'm still curious.

Good luck!

[GIUBOSS]

[copyaction]

[slimslob]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

Yes the 2027 had 2 springs connecting from the arm on the lift motor to the lift lever for the tray, It increased the lift pressure for wider paper by changing the motor timing based on whether or not the width switch in the back was activated by the extension on the back of the tray. Worked nice until the switch either came loose or the bracket got bent. Then it would detect LEF Letter as SEF halt letter and set the lift accordingly. It you then set the size in User Tools it left the lift set as half letter.

The 2550 should still have the shorter spring only instead of connecting to the arm on the lift motor it connected to a lever actuated by the tray extension. If that second spring is missing, you will have a problem.

[KeviM]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

I've had similar issues with the MP2550. From my experiences this is what resolved the problem. Some of these have been mentioned here by other technicians.

1) It might be a fault with the actual tray. Change the paper tray and see if it makes a difference.

2) Change the push sensor behind the tray located on the frame of the machine.

3) Check of your machine is sitting 100% level and isn't skew. This can cause a problem as well.

4) Check paper detection sensor actuator to see if it's broken. Bit common on these machines.

Also, I'm not 100% certain but I think if you open your right hand side cover / duplex unit and then push your tray in you will have a view of the tray lifting the paper up. That should give you a better idea of what's happening inside.

[Polarbear]

Re: MP 2550 Tray 1 lift erratic...

Does this one have the triangular metal catch on the right side of the drawer rail? On mp2500 these were very soft and would bend causing extra play when the drawer latches closed. The slightest movement would cause the machine to think the drawer was opened, and it would drop the baseplate causing a jam condition. Not sure if this model also has these?

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