BROTHER Laser Printer Paper Tray Feed Cog Wheel Spare Part for Model MFC-8860 and similar Models

The provided cog wheel is a replacement/spare part of the removable paper feed tray mechanism, which in my case was the earliest part to break in the otherwise sturdy and lasting design of my BROTHER MFC-8860 laser printer. Since the paper tray was used throughout the series of back then BROTHER printers, this part may be compatible to many other printers from that era.

This spare part was not designed to be a 1:1 copy of the original part: Emphasis was rather put on it to function coming out of a 3D-printing process. The cogs have now a solid side wall against early breaking off and the shaft holding the steel lever was given more wall thickness.

With the original part consisting of polyamide that features low friction surfaces, it may come in handy to spray a thin layer of PTFE on the printed spare before assembly. You may prolong the life of the spare part by not using the full capacity of the paper tray in the future.

How to print: It is recommended to print this part of the strongest (in terms of ductility not hardness) material your printer can handle to make the cogs durable. 

How to assemble: 

1.  Use a small screw driver (right hand) to push down the snapper whilst pulling the original part (left hand) sideways out of the trays gear.
2. Be careful not to loose the other two cogwheels, which are now just sitting freely on their axes.
3. Push the spare part (left hand) onto the metal lever (right hand) until the snapper finds the marked hole. Whilst pushing, mind that the part has also a contact fit to the driving center cogwheel as well as to the opening in the tray, that leads the spare part in its motion.