OfficeJet 6700 Cartridge Feeder Stuck? Here's How to Fix the Carriage & Gear Issues

Question:

I tried following the YouTube video to fix my OfficeJet 6700 printer, but the cartridge feeder is stuck. I manually locked the feeder, and it stays in place, but it won’t move anymore. Also, I’m confused about when the white pinion gear should engage—I can only move it by hand. What should I do next?

Answer:

Diagnosing the Cartridge Feeder Lock-Up

From your message, it seems that your OfficeJet 6700 is experiencing a mechanical lock-up at the printhead carriage (cartridge feeder). This is a common issue, especially after performing partial disassembly or cleaning around the capping station and carriage path.

In your case, the white pinion gear and carriage motor assembly might not be re-engaging properly with the timing belt or encoder strip. Here’s what we recommend checking:

1. Check the Capping Station Retraction

From your description—and what we saw in the video—the capping station (which seals the printhead during rest) is retracting smoothly. That’s a good sign and indicates that the service station mechanism is functional.

2. Inspect the Carriage Encoder Strip

The encoder strip is a transparent film running behind the carriage. This strip is responsible for telling the printer the carriage's position. If this is dirty, dislodged, or misaligned, it could cause the printer to "think" the carriage is in the wrong place—or prevent it from moving at all.

• Make sure the strip is clean and tensioned properly.

• Use a lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) to gently wipe it.

3. Evaluate the White Pinion Gear Timing

The white pinion gear on this model is part of a gear train that connects the carriage to the drive belt and motor. This gear only engages once certain parts (like the capping station or wiper assembly) have completed their movement. If you manually move the gear and it doesn't move freely during startup, it may be:

• Out of sync with the main carriage drive.

• Blocked by a stuck wiper arm or partially retracted capping station arm.

• Missing spring tension that repositions it during boot-up.

Try the following:

• Power off and manually move the gear and carriage gently left/right. Listen for resistance.

• Reset the printer and see if the carriage attempts to move on its own.

• If not, the carriage motor or its sensor might have failed.

4. Printhead Carriage Motor & Sensor

If the carriage doesn’t attempt to move at all—even after a reset—then the DC motor driving the carriage may be non-functional, or the timing sensor isn't giving feedback. This could prevent the printer from initializing movement.

In rare cases, firmware may also throw error codes like:

• Error 0x6100004a or 0x610000f6 – These typically relate to carriage jam or system error.

• If you see one of these, the internal sensor may be out of alignment or obstructed.

Final Notes

Resolving these mechanical timing issues often requires complete teardown and re-timing of the gear and belt assemblies. If you're comfortable doing this, we recommend taking a clear look at the gear engagement points and springs beneath the carriage path.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thanks again for your patience, for watching our content, and for being part of the BCH Technologies community. Your involvement helps keep DIY printer repair alive and well.