I have a problem on the paper feed side and I need to partially dismantle the machine to fix it.....does anyone have step by step instructions on dismantling the machine from the top down? I'm told it's fairly easy but all hidden screws and clips - where are they all? Any help will be greatly appreciated. many thanks.

Here you go (thanks Google)

http://marga.ph/frequently-asked-que...r-mfc-j5910dw/

Brother have some good information too

http://support.brother.com/g/b/faqli...ll&ftype3=1969

I doubt very much that you'll need to strip it down to get at any trapped paper. I've used several models (home and work), and never needed to do anything beyond opening the unit up via the usual user access methods.

Thanks Ferrari - mebe didn't explain properly.......the printer is showing "paper not fed" error and when I opened up the front of the machine - with paper tray out - I found the plastic guide had come off the guide rail with a broken plastic part at one end of the rail having somehow come off. The plastic guide part itself is unharmed. By the sounds of it the part is inside the plastics of the machine - behind the ink-cartridge side. (I can hear it rattling when I turned the machine on its side). A repair guy - 80 miles from me - the closest Brother have to me - has advised me what to do to repair it also telling me there are hidden screws and "clips" which have to be found - and he's not kidding! Unfortunately that guy is no longer in the UK as we speak. I started tonight - on the dining room table - and I've managed so far but I've kinda stuck as there are no other obvious screws yet the main area I need to get to remains tightly on the machine. Hence my plea for help. BTW I'm advised Brother "engineers" charge £60.00 per hour (I'd also have to ship the printer to them) so do you blame me for going down the DIY route. I'm no "idiot" but I'm also no "genius" either.
The printer is basically very good and very very lightly used but I do need it for overprinting A3.....so I'd like to fix it if possible. I've also got a fair stock of ink cartridges too.

Well, I assume from your comments that the printer is no longer under warranty, otherwise you'd have pursued this route (returning to supplier) I'm sure.

A guick search using 'MFC-J5910DW service manual' brought up a number of results. I managed to download a service manual from here

http://www.copytechnet.net/brother/b...l-p-13154.html

The PDF is 360 pages long, but does describe how to disassemble with nice drawing, including an exploded-view of the machine. So, I hope that will help you get this task completed and the dining room table clear again.

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You are a star Ferrari - I tried and failed to find what you have some up with.....many thanks.....that's my weekend sorted out then!!!!!! I've already got numerous screws and a dew plastic panels off but I need to get the main plastic panel off to see where I can - or if I can - fix it. By the way warranty expired September 2014 !!!!!! Many thanks again......I'll let you know , when I know!!!!! Bill

Great. I'll be following your DIY repair mission with interest.

Thought I'd keep you in the loop......I've been slowly but surely trying to dismantle the machine but finding a brick wall and I don't want to break anything. To get to the bit I require looking at I need to get the plastic middle part out so I can see into the bottom workings. I've removed front panels, various screws, etc., etc. and managed to get the front part of the base separated but I just can't get the rear part separated. That is the end where the scanner multi-feed are connected and I can't for the life of me see or understand how they come apart......all VEEEEEERRRRRYYYY frustrating.

i confess I'm not on the job all the time but I keep going back to it.

the manual is helpful but it is so difficult to follow.....I'm sure a lot of it is via clips but I don't want to prise anything too far in case i break it.

As I said very frustrating.

Bill

It's a challenge to offer support remotely via a forum. I have a copy of that service manual, so maybe if you can describe which page most closely represents the stage of disassembly, I can try to help with the next stage of disassembly. Is it the automatic document feeder (ADF) assembly you're trying to get at?

Hi Ferrari.....firstly could I say how much i appreciate your interest and attempts to point me in the right direction. It would appear that it is the "switchback rail" which may be needing replaced or repaired. This afternoon when I attempted to separate the middle section - to look into the bottom mechanism a small black plastic part fell out of the bottom of the machine. It is small enough to make me suggest it IS from the switchback roller - and it is the right-hand edge (looking into the front of the machine) which appears loose. This small black plastic part IS broken.
Manual pages 3.78 / 3.98 and 3.110 show what i need to replace / repair. HOWEVER - call me stupid - but I cannot get the top part (the ADF) and the flat-bed scanner off. I need to remove them from the machine - that will allow me more direct access to the mechanism where the "switchback roller/rail" is. There are no apparent screws to remove from the ADF/Scanner relevant to get it clear of the base of the machine. I have been able to unseat the front part of both sides of the machine but I cannot unseat the rear parts. It is obvious the ADF/Scanner units are preventing this - so in conclusion. How do I remove the ADF / Scanner units. ??? many thanks once more.

The photographs here show 1 the right-hand side with black plastic part missing (the rail is loose). 2: the left hand side with the white plastic intact - this is rigid.

I'm glad to be of limited help. You're not an idiot. From my service background, I knew this was going to be a challenge, and without a workshop environment, you're more game than me to tackle such a project. Anyway, this youtube video might help with at least showing you how to remove the flat bed scanner part

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlSyvpJdMc8

ferrari you are a star......although I'm not fluent Chinese or whatever I was easily able to follow the removal of the upper flat bed scanner part (20 seconds flat). this now clearly shows my assumption was correct.....now problem is - is the replacement part required the FULL assembly of the "switchback roller" or can I get the missing parts from the second pic - then how to access that for fitting? pics below: 1 the left-hand side showing the mechanism 2 the right hand side showing the other end of the switchback roller not attached to anything????

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It is in fact the Lock arm of bushing L on the intermediate roller I need re: 3.109

Indeed it's NOT the "L" I need it's the "R" looking at the diagram from the wrong end .....sillu me.

However been advised by the "nice" people at a Brother Repair Centre that the part ONLY comes as part of the complete ENGINE ASSEMBLY - I don't think they want idiots like me poking about inside their machines !!!! I think they want people to buy new!!!! If that was their intention to scare me then I think it's worked - no point in paying a lot for an engine and all the associated headaches thereafter !!!!! However been an interesting "exercise".....

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FERRARI - If you weren't so far away. I'd buy you some pints!!!! My brother-in-law is a Kiwi !!!! Best Regards.

The photos you shared here appear to be looking at the DX chassis (3-98,3-99). It's typical for manufacturers not to sell small components, but rather the whole assembly, and often the cost makes repair prohibitive. When I was working in the repair business, we used to keep scrapped hardware for spares, especially printers, because of exactly this situation.

You mentioned that part supporting the roller actually broken If you examine picture 3-99, it looks like it might be feasible to attempt to fashion some kind of support and fix it to the DX chassis. Or perhaps you could glue the part together again (using an appropriate plastic glue of course). It might take some thought and ingenuity here if you have to make a part, but worth a shot perhaps?

Thanks for the thought. I did spend 4 years working in the UK and thoroughly enjoyed my time there - my father is English, so I'm lucky enough an EU passport as well as my NZ passport.