Ricoh SC501–SC504 — Paper tray lift errors (the fix-it-yourself family)

What this error means

Tray 1 through 4 respectively failed to lift paper to the feed position — and Ricoh's own knowledge base points at causes users can fix: stray sheets jammed behind or under the tray blocking the lift, or an overfilled tray. This family has probably the highest DIY success rate of any Ricoh SC code.

Symptoms

• 'Reset Paper Tray' or SC50x on one tray
• Tray recently slammed/overfilled
• Grinding from the tray area

Try this first (safe DIY steps)

1. Power off; pull the offending tray fully OUT of the machine
2. Look and reach behind/under the tray cavity — stray sheets love it back there
3. Don't fill past the max line (~500 sheets standard trays)
4. Reinsert until it clicks; power on

Safety: power off before any physical intervention. Never bypass covers or interlocks — fuser areas run hot enough to burn.

When to call a technician

Same tray recurring with a clean cavity = lift motor/sensor service.