Spring fell from bottom, now error 6000 (Canon PIXMA MG5420)

[sotf]

I purchased a used mg5420. Upon arrival, I noticed a very tiny spring at the bottom of the box, underneath the printer. It is very very tiny. When starting the printer, I get error code 6000. I examined the rollers and so on and can't find where this spring goes. I see several other small springs when removing the paper tray as well as attached to the strip inside the printer but none look quite like this spring. It is very small, has 2 circles on each end for connection and is densely packed, yet has light resistance. More of a light grey color where as all the other tiny springs I see in the printer are a stainless color. Thanks.

 

[PeterBJ]

Normally one would check the service manual for the cause of Error 6000, but the service manual is nowhere to be found. For an older printer of the MG5200 series this is the list of causes for the Error 6000:

Notice item 5, could this be the spring? I have the very similar MG5550 so I could try looking for the spring without taking the printer apart. From your description of the spring it's a pulling spring. I guess you cannot scan or photograph the spring so could you give the dimensions? see this sketch: A is the length of the tightly wound section, B is the diameter of the tightly wound section and C is the diameter of the hooks/eyelets at the ends of the spring.

 

[sotf]

Someone mentioned it could be a spring that was from a bracket somewhere that has broken. Something about a purge unit (my printer knowledge is limited). A = 6 mm, B = 3 mm, C = 3 mm (maybe a hair larger). A lot of error 6000 seems to be printer jams and so on. There is the possibility this spring isn't the cause of the 6000 error but I doubt it.

 

[PeterBJ]

Here is a photo of my MG5550 from the bottom, near the paper pick up roller. Two springs I think match your description are visible. One is seen from the end so it might be hard to spot. The top of the photo is towards the front of the printer:

 

[sotf]

Mine does not look like that. There is one spring I can see but it doesn't look like the one that fell off. There aren't as many rings on the coil/not as tightly packed. I will say in the photos below, those top rollers (in photo paper tray?) do not seem right. They don't have any resistance like the bottom (regular paper) feed. They also have nothing to push downward on them like the big spring under the regular paper rollers. They kind of flop around.

 

[PeterBJ]

Even if the two printers look very similar, there are some differences, so sadly my photo is of no use. The MG5550 must be an entry level model, it has got no closed paper cassette, instead paper is loaded at the bottom tray cheap HP-AIO style:

This bottom tray can be pulled out 10 cm or 4" to make loading small format photo paper easier:

 

[The Hat]

I reckon just looking at @PeterBJ Pic, that the spring might be from this location in your Pic, it’s a possibility..

 

[sotf]

There is nothing in that hole as far as attachment points. It's just a shallow hole.

 

[The Hat]

There is nothing in that hole as far as attachment points. It's just a shallow hole.

Maybe the plastic hook that the spring was suppose to attach too has also broken off leading to the wayward spring.
Investigate further, me thinks..

 

[sotf]

I can verify that is just a hole with no anchor points. Same with all other holes on the bottom. I am cutting my loses and returning this to the buyer as DOA. I greatly appreciate everyone trying to find a needle in a haystack. Thank you.