Epson ET-8550 Won't Print 13x19 Paper: Rear Feeder and Paper Feed Troubleshooting

Question

My Epson ET-8550 has never been able to print on 13 × 19-inch paper. The top/rear paper feeder does not seem to work, and when I try the rear feed slot, the printer simply pulls the paper through and ejects it without printing anything. This problem has existed since I bought the printer. What could cause this, and what should I check?

Answer

The first important point is that the Epson ET-8550 is designed to print on 13 × 19-inch paper, which Epson also identifies as A3+ (329 × 483 mm). Therefore, the fact that your printer has never handled this size correctly suggests either a paper-source/settings problem or a mechanical/sensor problem rather than a normal limitation of the printer. Epson specifies that A3+ paper can be loaded through the rear paper feeder, and certain thick media can also be loaded one sheet at a time through the rear paper feed slot. (Epson)

Understanding the Two Rear Paper Paths

One source of confusion on the ET-8550 is that there are actually two different rear feeding systems, and they are not used in exactly the same way.

The rear paper feeder is the regular feeder at the top/back of the printer. This is normally the appropriate place for standard 13 × 19 paper, including many photo and presentation papers. Depending on the media type, multiple sheets can be loaded there.

The rear paper feed slot is a separate, straighter paper path intended mainly for individual sheets of thick or specialty media. Epson specifically warns not to place paper into this slot until the printer asks you to do so. If paper is inserted into this slot before the print job has been initiated and the printer is ready for it, the ET-8550 may simply take the sheet and eject it without printing. (Epson Support Files)

That behavior is very similar to what you described, so the rear slot passing the paper straight through does not automatically mean that the printer has a mechanical failure.

If You Are Using the Rear Paper Feed Slot

Try starting the print job before inserting the sheet.

In your printing software or printer driver, select the correct paper size, preferably 13 × 19 in. / A3+, select the appropriate media type, and select the rear paper feed slot if your driver provides that option. Send the print job and wait for the printer's LCD to tell you when to insert the sheet.

Only then should the paper be inserted into the rear slot.

This loading sequence is important because the ET-8550 treats that slot differently from an ordinary automatic paper feeder. Epson's own troubleshooting information specifically notes that if paper is ejected from the rear paper feed slot without printing, you should start the print job first and then load the sheet. (Epson)

Check the Paper Size and Source in the Printer Driver

For 13 × 19 paper, make sure the computer is actually sending a 13 × 19/A3+ print job.

Look for settings such as:

Paper Size: 13 × 19 in., Super B/A3+, or A3+, depending on the operating system and software.

Paper Source: Rear Paper Feeder or Rear Paper Feed Slot, depending on where you physically loaded the paper.

Media Type: Choose a setting appropriate for the paper being used.

This matters because the ET-8550 has several paper sources. If the application is telling the printer to use one source while the paper is physically loaded into another, the printer can behave unexpectedly or ask for paper from a different location.

I would initially avoid using a custom paper size. Since 13 × 19/A3+ is already a supported ET-8550 size, testing with the printer's built-in 13 × 19 or A3+ selection removes one variable from the diagnosis.

Test the Regular Rear Paper Feeder Separately

The more concerning part of your description is that the regular top/rear paper feeder has apparently never worked, even from the time the printer was new.

Test this feeder independently from the 13 × 19 problem.

Start with ordinary Letter-size plain paper rather than expensive 13 × 19 photo paper. Load several sheets into the regular rear paper feeder, adjust the side guides so they touch the paper without squeezing it, and attempt a simple print using the rear paper feeder as the source.

If the printer cannot pick up even ordinary Letter paper from this feeder, then the problem is probably not related specifically to 13 × 19 paper.

Possible mechanical causes can include:

• Rear feeder pickup rollers that are not engaging the paper

• Contaminated or slipping pickup rollers

• A paper pickup mechanism that is not moving into position

• A disconnected, obstructed, or malfunctioning paper sensor

• A damaged gear, lever, or other component in the rear feeding mechanism

• A feeder assembly that was incorrectly installed or damaged during manufacturing or transportation

Because you said the feeder has never worked since the printer was purchased, I would pay particular attention to an assembly, sensor, or mechanical alignment issue rather than assuming normal wear.

Listen to What the Printer Does When It Tries to Pick Up Paper

The sound and movement can provide useful clues.

If you send a print job to the rear paper feeder and hear the pickup mechanism operating but the paper never moves, the pickup roller may be slipping or failing to contact the sheet.

If there is little or no feeder movement at all, then the printer may not be commanding that paper source correctly, or there could be a sensor, actuator, gear, motor-drive, or electronic issue.

If the sheet begins feeding but is immediately expelled, the printer may be detecting the paper incorrectly or deciding that the sheet does not match the expected paper path or loading condition.

Check the Rear Feeder for Packaging or Obstructions

Since this problem has existed since the printer was new, carefully inspect the rear feeder for anything that may have been overlooked during setup.

Look for packing material, tape, pieces of plastic, foreign material, or a guide that is not seated properly. Also examine the paper path with a flashlight for small scraps of paper or objects that could prevent the pickup components from moving normally.

Do not force any gears, levers, or rollers if they do not move easily.

Make Sure the Paper Is Loaded in the Correct Orientation

Epson specifies that paper loaded at the rear should generally enter short edge first, with the printable side facing upward. The edge guides should be positioned against the sheet without bending or pinching it. (Epson Support Files)

For a normal 13 × 19 sheet, that means the 13-inch edge enters the printer first.

Also make sure the sheet is reasonably flat. Heavy curl can prevent the pickup rollers or paper-detection system from handling large sheets reliably.

Paper Thickness Matters

If you are using ordinary photo, presentation, or inkjet paper, the normal rear paper feeder is usually the appropriate source.

The separate rear paper feed slot becomes particularly useful for thick media. Epson specifies that the slot can accept one sheet at a time of supported thick paper or card stock approximately 0.61 to 1.3 mm thick, including 13 × 19/A3+ on the ET-8550. (Epson)

So the correct feeding method depends not only on the dimensions of the paper but also on its thickness and type.

Try Printing Directly From Another Application or Computer

Another useful test is to eliminate the application or driver configuration.

Try a simple 13 × 19 document from another program. If possible, also try another computer using the current Epson ET-8550 driver.

If one computer can print 13 × 19 correctly while another cannot, the printer hardware is probably not the main problem.

If the ET-8550 behaves identically regardless of computer, application, and paper settings-and especially if the regular rear feeder cannot pick up even Letter paper-then the evidence points much more strongly toward the printer itself.

Test 13 × 19 Without Borderless Printing First

The ET-8550 supports compatible 13 × 19/A3+ borderless printing, but for troubleshooting I would first turn borderless printing off. (Epson Support Files)

Use a normal 13 × 19 print with margins. Once normal feeding and printing are working, borderless printing can be tested separately.

This simplifies the job and removes additional driver settings from the diagnosis.

If the Rear Feeder Has Never Worked

Since you mentioned that this problem has existed from the day you bought the printer, that detail is significant.

A printer that has never successfully picked up paper from one of its supported feeders could have had a mechanical problem from the beginning. If basic paper-source settings, correct loading procedure, and a test with ordinary Letter paper do not change the behavior, I would suspect the rear feeder mechanism or its paper-detection system.

The rear feed slot ejecting a blank sheet may simply be caused by loading the sheet before the printer requests it, but the regular rear feeder failing to pick up paper is a separate issue and should be diagnosed separately.

There is no specific Epson error code mentioned in your description, so in this case the physical behavior of the paper-feed system is more useful diagnostically than an error-code lookup.

Addressing printer problems can be complicated because so much of the diagnosis depends on directly observing the machine and testing its mechanical components. For that reason, we're unable to provide individualized remote troubleshooting, repair suggestions, or repair support. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local printer diagnostic and repair facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before a drop-off opening becomes available. Our services are structured so we can evaluate either a complete printer or certain individual components, with instructions provided for the appropriate process. We also recognize that our repair rates may not be the most economical choice in every situation, so we strongly encourage self-help through online research when practical. A good starting point is YouTube or the homepage of our BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. On our channel, you can use the search icon near the "About" area of the menu to search for a specific printer model, component, or symptom. I receive dozens of questions each day asking whether we have a particular video, and after creating repair videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every video we have published. Using YouTube's search feature is usually the fastest way to find the relevant material, and YouTube may also recommend useful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for contacting BCH Technologies and for supporting our work. I hope this information helps you narrow the problem down to either the paper-loading procedure and print settings or an actual rear-feeder mechanical issue.