User manual

49E TROUBLESHOOTING, DIAGNOSTICS, AND MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE CONTINUED
Cleaning the Drive Gear
The drive gear is the part of the extruder that pushes filament through the extruder. When you
make things with your MakerBot Replicator 2, small pieces of hardened PLA can stick to the
drive gear. If you are having problems with your extruder, cleaning the drive gear might help.
1. Unload the MakerBot PLA Filament
from the extruder. To start the script for
unloading the MakerBot PLA Filament,
go to the LCD panel and select
Utilities > Filament Options > Unload.
2. Unscrew the two bolts at the lower corners
of the fan guard using the 2.5 mm hex key
included with your MakerBot Replicator 2.
As one piece, remove the fan guard, the fan,
the heat sink, and spacers. Keep these pieces
together and set them aside.
3. Unclip the motor wires.
4. Pull the motor assembly out.
5. Find the drive gear on the motor sha.
Using a small instrument like a makeup
brush, toothbrush or toothpick, remove all
the pieces of filament stuck to the drive gear.