Question: I'm trying to set up a brand-new Epson WorkForce WF-3640 printer and it seems there are some weird mechanical issues. It would seem the carriage is not moving freely. This is *before* I get to install the ink cartridges.

The printer may make a loud grinding noise and return errors 0xF1, 0xEA, 0xE8, or 0xE1. Alternatively, the printer may report a paper jam when there is no paper in the paper path at all.

Any ideas?

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It seems the carriage is getting stuck on a movable plastic clip at the front right end of the unit or is not engaging correctly at the right end. Why would this be happening?

Answer: 
Epson technical support stated that this is a hardware failure. Standard troubleshooting steps have not produced a solution. 

The printer is being replaced under warranty.

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**Update:** The replacement printer has been set up and is fully operational. Well, defective product is defective...
Same error code 0xEA for WF-3640 received today.

...multiple attempts to clear it, but each time (after I finally got the carriage to go to the left), the carriage returned to the right, locked up, and error'd out.

Called Epson...cycled through the same process, even sent them a picture of the l-shaped bracket (for whatever they needed to look at)...tried again, and...surprise the same error occurred. They finally stated "hardware error", please return it to the place of purchase for a replacement. This is the first Epson in 20+ years...have had nothing but Canons and first one out of the box...it's really a shame. Hopefully the warranty replacement will be happier.