How to re-attach an encoder strip - HP Photosmart 7450 InkJet Printer

We have just re attached the encoder strip after it came off. We now are faced with the ink cartridges not moving when we turn the printer on even though the belt is moving

Re-position the Encoder Strip on your all in one Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit where the printer cartridges are located.

3. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.

4. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.

5. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

6. Gently press the strip first to the rear and then forward to ensure that it is seated correctly.

7. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right to check the positioning of the encoder strip.

8. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

See attached pictures, one for an out or place encoder strip, the other for a well placed strip.

Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism.

Good luck!

This was originally posted by member silly girl 5 years ago for this model printer. and same error code.

Follow these steps :
The encoder strip may be dirty and needs cleaning. The encoder strip has many tiny lines on it, that the carriage sensor counts to determine its location in the printer environment. If this strip gets dirty, the carriage sensor will read several lines as one and in the end it will try to go past the carriage path; when obstructed it perceives this as a paper jam.
The encoder strip is located just behind the slider rod, the shiny rod that guides the carriage back and forth. The encoder strip should be cleaned with a lint-free cloth wetted with clean and luke-warm water (no water allowed to drip into the printer!). Be careful not to pull hard on the encder strip, it can VERY easilly break or jump off its attachment points!
First gently slide the carriage over to the left and clean the right part of the encoder strip, then slide the carriage over to the right and continue with the left side of the strip. Note: Always clean FROM the right side to the left, since the strip is attached to a hardpoint on the right side of the printer and to a leaf spring on the left side. According to Murphy's Law, pulling on the leaf spring WILL make the encoder strip jump off the hardpoint hook on the right side, causing a mess to get it back! (not supported...)
But in many cases this solves the 86.01 error

Hi There, Please follow the below steps to get off this error :
Re-position the Encoder Strip on your Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit where the printer cartridges are located.

3. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.

4. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.

5. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

6. Gently press the strip first to the rear and then forward to ensure that it is seated correctly.

7. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right to check the positioning of the encoder strip.

8. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

See attached pictures, one for an out or place encoder strip, the other for a well placed strip.

Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism.

I got an amazing solution to this problem that worked for me.......my printer is working now :)
>.

just sharing with you............

"Someone tried for hours to reattach my encoder strip, and finally figured out the way to do it after reading many web postings, and my own trial and error. The key is to use a "dental mirror" that you can pick up at a pharmacy or hardware store for about $5. (Perhaps a small compact mirror may also work.) And you need to focus light back there. (I used a head lamp.) The problem is you just can not see the small slot through which the encoder strip must be threaded from the front of the printer. It sits in back of the ink cartridges. This thin slot "tunnel" goes though a rectangular piece of plastic. You can feel the rectangular piece of plastic in back of the ink cartridges, and looking with the dental mirror you can see how small the slots are on the right and left side, through which the encoder strip must be threaded. After "seeing" these small slots using the dental mirror, you then can feel them with the tip of a fingernail, and know exactly what you are aiming for as you then feed the encoder strip through. (It doesn't make any difference of you feed the strip from the left or the right, but the down arrow end of the encoder stip must end up on the right when you later attach it to the wire tab.) I fed the strip "blind" after I had formed a strong mental image of exacly what I was trying to do, and now being able to feel the small slot I was aiming for with the tip of a fingernail. (It is tough working in the small space in back of the ink cartridges, and if you have really big hands and fingers it may be impossible. I did not want to use forceps or tweezers because of a fear of damaging the encoder strip.) The encoder strip then must be attached with the down arrow end on the right attaching to a flimsy looking wire on the right side of the printer. The left end of the encoder strip must be attached to a metal tab on the left side of the printer. You will need to hold tension on the encoder strip, and manually push the sliding ink cartridge back and forth out of the way as you attatch both ends. (It's probably a good idea to gently clean the encoder stip of all your fingerprints and any smudged ink with a tissue after you get it back in place. Also be sure to clean the metal bar the ink cartridges slide back and forth on, so you don't get error message 0502.) Be prepared for this to be a very frustating experience! You will be maddened by how many times it will take to thread the encoder strip though the slot, how difficult it will be to catch the end of the encoder strip on the wire and metal tabs, and how you will have to figure out how to hold tension on the encoder strip so one end won't fall off as you attach the other end. But once you use the dental mirror to see where you have to thread the encoder strip, and once you see the wire and metal tabs to which the ends of the encoder strip must be attached, then YOU CAN DO IT! It just takes persistance."

First unplug your printer...

Lift your printer top, like you are going to change your ink cartridges.

Unplug your scanner & control panel by disconnecting the 3 ribbon cables

Then, you will need a screwdriver (philips head). remove the screws (about 4) from the inside housing cover.

After you have this cover off...

You should be able to see the sides of the cartridge. Take your encoder strip (gently) and thread it through the back of the cartriidges. Note: There are small slits on the side where you can thread.

If the encoder strip has come completely off (there should be tension if it is connected), you will have to located the right and left "pins" to attach it back to. I have a lexmark x-2500 so, mine are on the metal frame. The right end (arrow up) attaches to a metal strip which points straight towards you (a part of the metal frame) with a small notch at the right end and on the left end there's a type of "punchout" pin which is a part of the metal frame. I had to slightly bend the right end pin to the right, just enough to create some tension & keep the encoder strip from popping back off. The left end pin should already be bent out to the left.

Hopefully, this helps someone

Re-position the Encoder Strip on your all in one Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit where the printer cartridges are located.

3. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.

4. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.

5. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

6. Gently press the strip first to the rear and then forward to ensure that it is seated correctly.

7. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right to check the positioning of the encoder strip.

8. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

See attached pictures, one for an out or place encoder strip, the other for a well placed strip.

Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism.

I tried for hours to reattach my encoder strip, and finally figured out the way to do it after reading many web postings, and my own trial and error.
The key is to use a "dental mirror" that you can pick up at a pharmacy or hardware store for about $5. (Perhaps a small compact mirror may also work.) And you need to focus light back there. (I used a head lamp.)
The problem is you just can not see the small slot through which the encoder strip must be threaded from the front of the printer. It sits in back of the ink cartridges. This thin slot "tunnel" goes though a rectangular piece of plastic. You can feel the rectangular piece of plastic in back of the ink cartridges, and looking with the dental mirror you can see how small the slots are on the right and left side, through which the encoder strip must be threaded. After "seeing" these small slots using the dental mirror, you then can feel them with the tip of a fingernail, and know exactly what you are aiming for as you then feed the encoder strip through. (It doesn't make any difference of you feed the strip from the left or the right, but the down arrow end of the encoder stip must end up on the right when you later attach it to the wire tab.) I fed the strip "blind" after I had formed a strong mental image of exacly what I was trying to do, and now being able to feel the small slot I was aiming for with the tip of a fingernail. (It is tough working in the small space in back of the ink cartridges, and if you have really big hands and fingers it may be impossible. I did not want to use forceps or tweezers because of a fear of damaging the encoder strip.)
The encoder strip then must be attached with the down arrow end on the right attaching to a flimsy looking wire on the right side of the printer. The left end of the encoder strip must be attached to a metal tab on the left side of the printer. You will need to hold tension on the encoder strip, and manually push the sliding ink cartridge back and forth out of the way as you attatch both ends.
(It's probably a good idea to gently clean the encoder stip of all your fingerprints and any smudged ink with a tissue after you get it back in place. Also be sure to clean the metal bar the ink cartridges slide back and forth on, so you don't get error message 0502.)
Be prepared for this to be a very frustating experience!
You will be maddened by how many times it will take to thread the encoder strip though the slot, how difficult it will be to catch the end of the encoder strip on the wire and metal tabs, and how you will have to figure out how to hold tension on the encoder strip so one end won't fall off as you attach the other end.
But once you use the dental mirror to see where you have to thread the encoder strip, and once you see the wire and metal tabs to which the ends of the encoder strip must be attached, then YOU CAN DO IT! It just takes persistance.

tried for hours to reattach my encoder strip, and finally figured out the way to do it after reading many web postings, and my own trial and error.
The key is to use a "dental mirror" that you can pick up at a pharmacy or hardware store for about $5. (Perhaps a small compact mirror may also work.) And you need to focus light back there. (I used a head lamp.)
The problem is you just can not see the small slot through which the encoder strip must be threaded from the front of the printer. It sits in back of the ink cartridges. This thin slot "tunnel" goes though a rectangular piece of plastic. You can feel the rectangular piece of plastic in back of the ink cartridges, and looking with the dental mirror you can see how small the slots are on the right and left side, through which the encoder strip must be threaded. After "seeing" these small slots using the dental mirror, you then can feel them with the tip of a fingernail, and know exactly what you are aiming for as you then feed the encoder strip through. (It doesn't make any difference of you feed the strip from the left or the right, but the down arrow end of the encoder stip must end up on the right when you later attach it to the wire tab.) I fed the strip "blind" after I had formed a strong mental image of exacly what I was trying to do, and now being able to feel the small slot I was aiming for with the tip of a fingernail. (It is tough working in the small space in back of the ink cartridges, and if you have really big hands and fingers it may be impossible. I did not want to use forceps or tweezers because of a fear of damaging the encoder strip.)
The encoder strip then must be attached with the down arrow end on the right attaching to a flimsy looking wire on the right side of the printer. The left end of the encoder strip must be attached to a metal tab on the left side of the printer. You will need to hold tension on the encoder strip, and manually push the sliding ink cartridge back and forth out of the way as you attatch both ends.
(It's probably a good idea to gently clean the encoder stip of all your fingerprints and any smudged ink with a tissue after you get it back in place. Also be sure to clean the metal bar the ink cartridges slide back and forth on, so you don't get error message 0502.)
Be prepared for this to be a very frustating experience!
You will be maddened by how many times it will take to thread the encoder strip though the slot, how difficult it will be to catch the end of the encoder strip on the wire and metal tabs, and how you will have to figure out how to hold tension on the encoder strip so one end won't fall off as you attach the other end.
But once you use the dental mirror to see where you have to thread the encoder strip, and once you see the wire and metal tabs to which the ends of the encoder strip must be attached, then YOU CAN DO IT! It just takes persistance.

I tried for hours to reattach my encoder strip, and finally figured out the way to do it after reading many web postings, and my own trial and error.
The key is to use a "dental mirror" that you can pick up at a pharmacy or hardware store for about $5. (Perhaps a small compact mirror may also work.) And you need to focus light back there. (I used a head lamp.)
The problem is you just can not see the small slot through which the encoder strip must be threaded from the front of the printer. It sits in back of the ink cartridges. This thin slot "tunnel" goes though a rectangular piece of plastic. You can feel the rectangular piece of plastic in back of the ink cartridges, and looking with the dental mirror you can see how small the slots are on the right and left side, through which the encoder strip must be threaded. After "seeing" these small slots using the dental mirror, you then can feel them with the tip of a fingernail, and know exactly what you are aiming for as you then feed the encoder strip through. (It doesn't make any difference of you feed the strip from the left or the right, but the down arrow end of the encoder stip must end up on the right when you later attach it to the wire tab.) I fed the strip "blind" after I had formed a strong mental image of exacly what I was trying to do, and now being able to feel the small slot I was aiming for with the tip of a fingernail. (It is tough working in the small space in back of the ink cartridges, and if you have really big hands and fingers it may be impossible. I did not want to use forceps or tweezers because of a fear of damaging the encoder strip.)
The encoder strip then must be attached with the down arrow end on the right attaching to a flimsy looking wire on the right side of the printer. The left end of the encoder strip must be attached to a metal tab on the left side of the printer. You will need to hold tension on the encoder strip, and manually push the sliding ink cartridge back and forth out of the way as you attatch both ends.
(It's probably a good idea to gently clean the encoder stip of all your fingerprints and any smudged ink with a tissue after you get it back in place. Also be sure to clean the metal bar the ink cartridges slide back and forth on, so you don't get error message 0502.)
Be prepared for this to be a very frustating experience!
You will be maddened by how many times it will take to thread the encoder strip though the slot, how difficult it will be to catch the end of the encoder strip on the wire and metal tabs, and how you will have to figure out how to hold tension on the encoder strip so one end won't fall off as you attach the other end.
But once you use the dental mirror to see where you have to thread the encoder strip, and once you see the wire and metal tabs to which the ends of the encoder strip must be attached, then YOU CAN DO IT! It just takes persistance.