Dymo LetraTag Tape Jam Fix

If none of the other tape jam error fixes have worked for you, this might solve your problem! If the motor that operates the feed roller comes unglued, it will cause a binding of the drive gears and give you the unmistakable grinding noise. You may be able to print occasionally, but eventually get the jam error again.
Follow the steps in this video to get to, and repair, your loose motor!

[@alexandraolson7563]

This video was actually super helpful. I tried ALL the other tricks I could find to try to fix this error. I wasn’t thrilled about taking the thing apart, but when it became clear that the thing was toast without doing it I had nothing to lose. The motor on mine had come totally detached from the unit. A little superglue and 100 tiny screws later and I’m back in business 😁

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Nice! If I can help one person, it was worth while. Sorry for the poor quality. I hadn't used the camera like this before and it doesn't have auto focus. I'm glad to know it helped! Awesome!

[@johnnyberggreennielsen7369]

It helped me as well 🙂

[@riderperformance1145]

I have this same Dymo Letratag, my second one after my first unit was dropped, destroying the screen. We use this great printer daily in our business, and dropping the unit just happens. This one was dropped also, but from a shorter three-foot height, and appeared to be undamaged, until the "tape jam" error notice came up. After clearing the error, trying to print would just produce a slight movement of the drive roller, followed by a fresh tape jam error. After trying all the KZbin tricks, nothing worked. I was about to replace the unit until I came across this video talking about a loose motor. With nothing to lose, I set up a work area in front of the computer and followed along with the video in doing the disassembly. Make sure to have a good high quality PH1 screwdriver (narrow shank) and a pair of needle nose pliers or tweezers. There are four specialty screws, the rest are all the same. Two of the specialty screws are shorter and hold the circuit board to the case, the other two have washered heads and fasten the upper case to the lower keyboard case. Just note where they came out of. Use your phone and take images as you go. Magnetizing the screwdriver (stroke multiple times one way on a magnet) helps with holding, removing and inserting the steel screws. Sure enough, the motor was loose, probably from the impact. I used a small amount of Goop, but E6000 would work fine, to glue the motor back to the mount, along with a light clamp and overnight setup. After setup, use the needle nose pliers to rotate the motor shaft to make sure everything turns okay, then begin the assembly process. I just followed this great KZbin video on the computer, step by step to do the reassembly. Just take it a step at a time, be patient, have good lighting, good fresh tools and a good place to work. It's very satisfying to have the printer operational again rather than being in the landfill or recycling center. Thumbs up to this very helpful video!

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

I'm glad you found the video helpful! I agree with you whole-heartedly about having a repaired printer instead of throwing it away. Even if for no other reason than to keep it out of the landfill, its worth fixing such a simple issue. Thanks for the additional advice on the process. Again, I agree! You're spot on!

[@mohenein3831]

I also tried everything else, none of them worked. But this did. The motor had also come unglued and that indeed was the problem. I initially put things back together incorrectly, but then figured out what I had done wrong. Thanks, I liked not having to buy a new one!

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

I'm so glad it helped! I apologize for the poor quality. The camera has no auto focus, but at least you were able to make use of it. Good work!

[@simplekamii]

exactly what I did

[@omerakkul]

Thanks a lot mate. My motor was pretty glued but somehow gears were not spin, so I removed the glue and cleaned the gear with watching your disassembly video. Now it’s working again.

[@eltiodeverde9490]

Great video. Really well explained. My problem wasn't related to the engine but following your guide helped me to find one of the gears being jammed, so I could re adjust it and the dymo works again. Thanks

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad the video was still beneficial to you. 👍

[@IanMcWilliamUK]

Agree with the other comments - none of the usual tricks helped and a quick once over with this video and a stuck gear moved back into position. i should try not to drop it so often!!! Most appreciated the guide.

[@alawrence6734]

Thank you very much for posting this video. It was very helpful in fixing the loose motor.

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

I'm glad it helped!

[@Onedich1]

Thanks for the video. It helped me a lot for repairing mine

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Awesome! Nice job, by the way.

[@hans-peternielsen4880]

Thanks for helping ,this video was great

[@ians1721]

Awesome - thanks for your help - superglued motor back in - no idea how long it will last - another example of a crap design!

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Super glad it was a helpful video! Nice job on the repair!

[@christophercastiel5483]

Well I do believe this will work, I rather just buy a new one, a non-Dymo label maker

[@verob6859]

Merci pour la vidéo 😀

[@erdem_guler]

Sen mükemmel bir insansın 🥰❤️

[@somethingsfishy2695]

Did everything here, all components seem fine, dymo does not even try to spin the motor and it says already tape jamp, motor connected to the lab bench power supply consumes 0.094A at 1.5 volts equivalent to 0.1W, no sense to be honest.

[@Darchful]

Unfortunately my problem is that the motor is blocked. Unusable machine, for recycling or garbage.

[@johnw8604]

Good video

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe you could make a video showing the right way to do it?

[@kelseyruggaard3514]

Managed to take it all apart and put it back together with one less screw and spring… but it’s still functioning. Didn’t fix the problem though!

[@Tendemaz]

I dont have the tape, added simple paper. Could it be the cause of the error? My motor is glued.

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

If you are using something other than the actual tape cartridges that are designed for this unit, I would say that is most likely your issue, yes.

[@rgarlinyc]

This is entirely unacceptable of Dymo - imagine if I had to unjam my HP LaserJet and got similar instructions. Dymo, you are TOTALLY useless at customer care or service. I will never buy another single thing fro. you!

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Understandable frustration! Luckily the fix is fairly easy, at least in my opinion. It shouldn't need fixed, you're right. My label printer was barely used when it began to jam like this.

[@rgarlinyc]

@@BlackthorneBuilds Thanks for your reply - and forgive me, but I should've also thanked you in the first place for taking the time to set out the detailed video. I wish you a great week ahead, Roger

[@Deezhan]

Never buying this shit again. I used mine less than 10 times before "TAPE JAM" message appeared. Horrible quality!

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Thats fair. They need some quality control. Thats for sure. Sorry I couldn't help!

[@tinaash1167]

It would have been nice had you narrated it, because I had no idea what the problem was until I read comments, because it looked like you just disassembled it and reassembled it. I figured out that you glued the motor down, but you didn't even show that part, so I am giving you a thumbs down.

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Oh, ok. Thanks. I'll remember to do it the way you want next time I provide you with free information to save you money on a label maker. You can have a thumbs down, too. Enjoy your day.

[@subseeker]

The image quality is trash. And I don't think this is the answer, anyway.

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

Thats fair. I never used this camera before and it turns out it didn't have auto focus. I'll probably reshoot the video with a better camera, and this WAS the problem for me. The motor had come free and the drive gears came out of mesh. Your results may vary. Thank you for the constructive criticism.

[@subseeker]

@@BlackthorneBuilds yeah, ok... I'm frustrated, I don't have the nerves to break down and reassemble it... I didn't use my Dymo for a couple of years and now it doesn't work, I just don't get it. Looks as good as new. Meh.

[@BlackthorneBuilds]

@@subseeker They sell new ones every day. I just hate to throw something out, ya know? It's not too hard to fix these, and if you break it in the process, well it didn't work before, so no big loss, right? You can do it.

[@subseeker]

@@BlackthorneBuilds yeah, I know you're right, I'm just lazy, that's all. I might open it up some day, if there's nothing else to do. But there always is... I might as well use it in target practice.