How to Fix a Broken Gear and Cassette 2 Loading Issue on Epson ET-8550

Question:
One of the white gears broke off inside my Epson ET-8550, and now Cassette 2 won’t load paper properly. What should I do?

Answer:

Regarding your Epson ET-8550 issue, where a white tooth broke off and Cassette 2 won’t load, this is most likely a failure of the duplexer feed gear—a common problem we've encountered in this model. The broken "tooth" you're referring to is likely a plastic gear in the duplexing mechanism, which assists in paper feeding. When this gear is damaged or missing a tooth, the printer fails to feed paper correctly from Cassette 2.

This mechanical issue will often lead to paper feed failure errors or cause the printer to repeatedly try and fail to pick up the paper. If this is the case, replacing the duplexer gear is the most effective solution.

We carry the correct replacement part here:
Duplexer Feed Gear for Epson ET-8550
[https://bchtechnologies.com/products/dfg-duplexer-feed-gear-for-epson-et-8550-et8550-duplxer?_pos=1&_sid=564099149&_ss=r]

Additionally, you may want to review our detailed guide on this topic to understand the issue and steps for replacement:
Troubleshooting Epson ET-8550 Paper Feed Issues
[https://bchtechnologies.com/blogs/blog/troubleshooting-steps-for-epson-et8550-paper-feed-issues]

Installing the replacement gear usually requires moderate disassembly of the rear duplexer unit. If you're comfortable using basic tools and following repair videos, it’s a manageable DIY repair. However, if you’re unsure, it might be best to seek assistance or proceed with professional evaluation.

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 in for inspection. 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 reaching out. We appreciate your patience and your trust in BCH Technologies.