HP LaserJet Grinding Noise & Paper Jam Problems? Check The RM2-5715 Paper Feed Drive Assembly
- William DeMuth
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
The Real Culprit Is Usually the RM2-5715 Feed Drive Assembly
If you own an HP LaserJet Enterprise M501, M506, M507, E50045, E50145, M527 MFP, M528 MFP, E52545 MFP, or E52645 MFP and you’re suddenly hearing a loud grinding or crunching noise from the right side of the printer — especially during startup or when printing from Tray 2 — you’re likely dealing with a failing RM2-5715 Paper Feed Drive Assembly.
This small but critical part is one of the most common failure points on these models after 150,000–400,000 pages.
What the RM2-5715 Actually Does
The RM2-5715 is the main drive unit on the right side of the printer. It contains a motor and a series of plastic gears that power:
Tray 2 cassette lift mechanism
Tray 2 pickup roller
Feed and separation rollers
Registration roller clutch
When the white nylon gears inside the assembly strip or crack, the printer loses proper control of paper movement — leading to a cascade of frustrating symptoms.
Classic Symptoms of a Bad RM2-5715
Most technicians and users report some combination of the following:
Symptom | Typical Error Code(s) | What You’ll Notice |
Loud grinding/crunching noise | None (just noise) | Especially loud on power-up or Tray 2 lift |
Repeating Tray 2 paper jams | 13.B2.D2, 13.B9.D2, 13.B2.A2 | Paper stops at registration, “late jam” |
Tray 2 won’t lift or lifts slowly | 60.02.00, 60.02 Tray Lift | Cassette stays down, printer says “Load Tray 2” |
Unexpected paper size error | 41.03, 41.3.Y.AZ | Even with correct paper loaded correctly |
Multiple sheets fed at once | No code, or accordion jams | Separation roller no longer driven properly |
Pickup roller spins but no feed | Various jam codes | Drive gears slipping inside the assembly |
The grinding noise is the giveaway. It almost always comes from the right side (not the rear, even though it may sound that way when standing behind the printer).
How to Confirm It’s the RM2-5715
Power the printer on and listen — the worst grinding usually happens during the first 10–15 seconds as Tray 2 tries to lift.
Open the right-side cover (the long vertical cover on the right when facing the printer).
Look at the large white gear cluster directly behind the cover. You’ll typically see:
Cracked or completely missing gear teeth
White plastic shavings scattered inside
Excessive play or wobble in the gears
Try a Tray 2 paper path test from the control panel (Service → Paper Path Test). The noise will be obvious.
Reference location (HP Service Manual – Internal Assemblies 4 of 4, Ref #3):
RM2-5715-000CN – Paper Feed Drive Assembly (right side)
The Fix: Replace the Entire Assembly
In 95%+ of cases, replacing the RM2-5715 completely solves:
All grinding noises
Tray lift errors (60.02)
Unexpected size errors (41.03)
Chronic Tray 2 jams (13.B2.xx)
Part number to order: RM2-5715-000CN RM2-5715-RO
This is a single factory-assembled unit — you do not need to rebuild the gear train yourself. Replacement takes about 15–20 minutes for an experienced technician.Pro Tip: While the right cover is off, vacuum out all the plastic debris and inspect/replace the Tray 2 pickup and separation roller kit (RM2-5741 or RM2-5745) if they’re worn. Doing both at the same time prevents call-backs.
Summary
If your HP M506, M507, M528, E52545, or similar model has started grinding from the right side and throwing Tray 2-related errors, don’t waste time on sensors, solenoids, or formatting the hard drive. Nine times out of ten, it’s the RM2-5715 feed drive assembly reaching the end of its service life.
Replace it once, and the printer will go quiet and feed reliably for another few hundred thousand pages.