Repairing HP Laserjet 1200 Laser Printer Paper Tray clip

User-Contributed Guide

User-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

I'd like to apologize in advance for some of the images; you don't want to breathe in the smell of Epoxy, so this HAS to be done outside

  • Author: nick
  • Time required: 2-3 days, or more(depends on damage)
  • Difficulty: Moderate

If these printers have a inherit flaw, it has to be the paper tray design, but this should work to fix all HP paper trays with this design flaw. It needs to be fixed unless you want the other clip to break.

The rest of the printer is a true workhorse tough, HP failed design 101 with the tray tough, because the clips are so short and flimsy, it does not take a lot of force to break them, I broke this tray without much force at all by mistake removing it from the printer, you can buy a whole new tray, but it's 40.00 or more, and you can't buy it minus the dust cover.

Learn how to fix the old paper tray you have and make a long term repair to the tray, decrease chances of breakage a second time, and save 25-30.00 by fixing the old tray you already have.

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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Fixing the paper tray  ¶ 

  • You will want to sand the tray down, this only applies if you have tried the BS fixes like PVC cement, super glue and controlled heat like I tried on this tray.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • From here, you will mask off anything you don't want covered in epoxy with the masking tape.

  • Keep the tape out, you'll need it later too.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Now it's time to mix the Epoxy.

  • Read the instructions on how to mix yours before starting to mix it together, I'm using 5 minute Epoxy.

  • Once you mix it, you have to start, otherwise it will dry, Epoxy drys with a chemical reaction, not air like glue.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Apply some Epoxy to the broken part of the tray clip on the frame, and run it through the mixed Epoxy to get some extra bondage to keep it on. Use quite a bit to ensure a good bond.

  • Hold it in place and tape it on well, the clip will fall off if you don't do this(it also helps to keep it upside down at times), some cases you will have to hold it by hand till it stays depending on the damage, use enough Epoxy to reliably bond this to the tray, the needed amount varies from tray to tray based on the level of breakage.

  • Use a cheap paintbrush from the dollar store, or something you really don't care about to mix and spread the Epoxy, the Epoxy will dry on it and you will have to throw it out(unless you can wipe it off fast enough).

  • Let the Epoxy dry for 24 hours no matter how long it says to let the Epoxy dry to be sure, then remove any tape SLOWLY if tape was used.

  • Handle the tray with great care before the second layer of Epoxy is applied, even if dry, because it can break off from not having a lot of reinforcement left

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Next, you will want to sand the Epoxy down, so it goes in the printer properly, this can be skipped, but is a very good idea to avoid breakage because it got caught in the printer and broke a second time

  • You WILL need a drywall mask for this! A standard drywall mask from Lowe's is enough for this

  • Get a file that is large enough to cover the Epoxy, but cover nothing else, and sand the tray down, and keep filing till flat enough to put in the printer, and then stop filing, and fill in anything that was excessively filed down with more Epoxy

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