Transportation Error on Epson 8550 Printer: Causes and Troubleshooting

Question:
I bought a drag chain for my Epson 8550 and tried to make my printer DTF. However, I am having issues with the printer that state a "transportation error" or that an object is blocking the printhead. I'm lost on what to do next. Do you do whatever you do to printers like this, and if so, how much, and how would I send my stuff to you?
 
Answer:
We appreciate you contacting us at BCH Technologies and your continued support. Sorry for the delay—printer problems can understandably feel urgent, and I want to give you as detailed and specific guidance as I can! We appreciate your interest, especially in our YouTube channel, BCH Technologies. Your feedback is essential for improving our technical content and serving our community better.
For the problem that your Epson 8550 printer faces, the log says that the "transportation error" is caused by something blocking or obstructing the printhead's movement. Usually, when this problem occurs, something blocks the carriage from moving freely, which is mainly an obstruction on the right-hand side. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what could be going on and how to fix it:
 
Typical Reasons/or Causes For Transportation Errors

• Physical obstruction or blockage: A common reason for a "transportation error" is that something is blocking the printhead carriage. This clogging is not always apparent, so it is prudent to check your printer on the outside for any foreign objects or debris that could prevent the printhead from moving inside. However, in your case, as you have mentioned, a drag chain, make sure that nothing in the drag chain prevents the carriage or its path.
• Carriage Stopped Before Reaching Grooves: A groove on the bottom (right side) of the scanner assembly helps the scanner move. If the printhead halts before these grooves are reached, the printer falsely assumes that the transportation lock remains on. Which is usually a safety mechanism that stops the carriage from moving when it isn't correctly aligned. It may sometimes be triggered, although the printhead was moved manually, or something is blocking its path.

Failure to Detect Carriage Movement: If, for some reason, the carriage moves beyond its detection point, the printer assumes there is a paper jam. If the carriage doesn't return to its home position correctly, the sensor that detects paper movement may falsely think that the paper has jammed.
How to Fix the Transportation Error

• Inspect the Carriage Path: Always inspect the carriage path on each side of the printer. Check for debris, ink buildup, or foreign objects that might be in the way of the printhead. You’re employing a drag chain setup, so make sure it’s correctly installed and does not physically limit the carriage.
• Check the Position of the Printer's Carriage: Move the carriage (powered off) to ensure it is free. Note the grooves on the right side. The carriage may try to be stuck, if you feel that it does, you can go ahead and clear out through`it's way.
• Clear Any Obstructions: A physical barrier within the printer can cause the error. If it does, try a reset. You can usually reboot the printer by turning it off, waiting 30 seconds after unplugging it, and then switching it back on. This may help reset the internal sensors and clear lingering error messages.

Regarding Our Services:
We do not provide services for modding or assembling Epson 8550 printers. You may find it cumbersome to perform such conversions by yourself, and we hope that you trust us for further guidance. Though we currently do not have the capacity for this service, we will keep this in mind for future consideration.
 
Further Assistance:
Despite the problems being practical, fixing printer issues can be pretty complicated. Remote troubleshooting, advice, or printer repair assistance will not be available. But we do provide a local diagnostic repair service through BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) where we will make an on-site visit to evaluate and repair your issue or assist you with your product in another way. Due to the high demand for our services, we function on a first-come, first-served basis, so there may be a few weeks until we can assess your printer. Repairing your whole printer or specific parts is available, and this article tells you how.
 
We get it — our rates are not the lowest, and you are strongly encouraged to consider a self-help journey via online resources. Visit our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for troubleshooting and how-to guidelines. You can find videos on various topics on our YouTube channel; we recommend searching for content related to your issue by clicking the search icon next to ''About.'' I might not remember every single one, and there are more than nine years of that video content. Hence, YouTube’s search function is a great tool to find the proper tutorial quickly. YouTube might also recommend helpful content from other channels.
 
Thanks again for your question. I hope that this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.