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Hi, This happens when the lube on the various shafts that the printer head slids on gets dried out, worn off and becomes sticky. Take some WD-40 and lightly lubricate three shafts. Also put some grease on the worm gear and that should solve the problem.
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Yes, you can (and should) lubricate it. It's easiest if you remove the printer mechanism first -- open up the case (you've done this), slide out the window, remove the paper roll. Then unplug the motor
wires from the PCB, and carefully unplug the flexiprint from the printhead to the PCB. Undo the 3 screws and take out the mechanism. Clean the leadscrew and the printhead guide rods with propan-2-ol.
Lubricate the rods that the print head slides on with something like clock oil. DO NOT USE WD40. WD40 is not a lubricant, it will turn to wax in a year or so and will
really gum things up. You will then have real problems. Also put a smear of light grease (I use Electrolube Special Plastic Grease) -- it's expensive but worth it) on the leadscrew.
Work the print head back and forth using the leadscrew pulley. When it seems fine, put the belt back on.
If that doesn't do it, try a drop of clock oil on the bearings at each end of the motor.
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Well, while we're on the subject of "whats your favorite lube" I have used Breakfree CLP. This is a teflon based (I think) gun oil that seems to work very well. The CLP stands for cleans, lubricates, protects. I had a couple of printers where water had gotten into them and rusted the motors and some gears solid. A little Breakfree and some toothbrush work and the printers have run perfectly for over two years.
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Thanks for all the help
I found that no amount of lubrication really helped until I cleaned out the threads of the worm gear.
It appears that paper dust getting caught in here was the main culprit.
It now works MUCH better.
BTW, I couldn't get the flexible cable from the print head unplugged from the board. I applied VERY firm pressure, but it only came part way out. I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and left it connected.