How to Prevent Pizza Wheel Roller Marks on Epson ET-8550 Prints

Question: I'm getting "pizza wheel" roller marks on my Epson ET-8550. Some photo papers come out with vertical roller indentations after printing, but it doesn't happen on every paper. Is there a way to prevent these marks?

Answer: 

Why "pizza wheel" marks happen on the ET-8550

What people call "pizza wheels" are the small star-wheel rollers (star-shaped spur rollers) that ride on top of the paper as it exits. Their job is to maintain traction and alignment without smearing wet ink. On certain media, though-especially:

• Glossy / luster / semi-gloss photo papers

• Soft-coated or resin-coated (RC) papers

• Thicker fine art papers

• Papers that stay slightly tacky right after ink lays down

...the star wheels can leave vertical tracks or indentations. You'll notice it more when:

• The paper coating is softer

• The ink load is heavy (high-quality photo mode, rich blacks)

• Humidity is higher or the paper is warm

• The printer is feeding slowly and the rollers ride the same line longer

So you're not imagining it-this is a known mechanical interaction between certain paper coatings and the exit roller system.

The most direct fix: Remove the star wheels (pizza wheels)

Yes-one effective way to stop the marks is to remove the star-wheel assembly so those spurs are no longer contacting the print.

That said, it comes with an important tradeoff (and you already suspected it):
Once the star wheels are removed, the printer may struggle to feed the last portion of the sheet, often around the last 1 inch, because the exit traction system is reduced.

Workaround after removing star wheels: Add a "paper tail"

A common workaround is to tape an extra tail/leader to the back end of your photo paper. That tail gives the rollers something to grab so the printer can finish feeding and print the full page. This is especially useful if you print full-bleed or need the very last section of the sheet to pass smoothly.

Important practical notes:

• Use a straight, clean tail (plain paper works) and align it carefully so it doesn't skew.

• Use tape that won't peel inside the printer (low-profile tape; avoid thick tape ridges).

• This is best for special photo prints, not everyday printing.

Why this isn't ideal for everyone

Removing the star wheels can be a great solution if you frequently print photos on sensitive media. But if you only print photos occasionally-or if the printer is also used for regular documents-this modification can create downsides like:

• More finicky feeding near the end of sheets

• Potential alignment inconsistencies depending on paper type

• More "hands-on" handling (paper tails, extra prep)

So it's a "pro print" workaround, but not always convenient for casual use.

Other practical ways to reduce roller marks (without removing parts)

Depending on the paper, you can sometimes reduce marks with workflow changes:

• Try a different paper surface (some glossy/luster coatings mark more easily than others).

• Allow longer drying time before handling and stacking.

• Avoid very high ink density settings if the paper is especially soft (some photo modes lay down more ink).

• Print single sheets and let them dry flat rather than letting them roll into a stack.

• If your paper has a "print side," double-check orientation-some papers have a slightly tougher coating on the correct print side.

These won't always eliminate the marks, but on borderline papers they can make the issue much less noticeable.

Finding the star-wheel removal video

The best way is to use YouTube search directly on our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Click the search icon near the channel menu (next to "About") and search terms like:

• "ET-8550 star wheel removal"

• "pizza wheel marks"

• "spur roller removal"

That will usually get you to the most relevant walkthrough faster than scrolling.

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 do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility: printer repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can schedule a drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we recognize our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly recommend self-help through online research. You can start by checking YouTube or visiting our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of questions every day asking about videos for specific topics, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it's hard to remember every single one-so YouTube's search tool is the most efficient. Plus, YouTube may suggest other helpful videos from other channels that could assist you too.

Thanks again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. We truly appreciate your engagement, and I hope this helps you eliminate those pizza wheel marks on the ET-8550 for the papers that are most sensitive.