it's making a loud grinding or clicking noise from the right side every time it picks up a sheet of paper.

Diagnosis

The loud grinding or clicking noise emanating from the right side of the HP LaserJet Tank MFP 2604sdw is typically caused by a failure in the paper feed synchronization. When the rubber pickup roller loses its grip—due to accumulated paper dust, adhesive residue from labels, or surface glazing—it fails to pull the sheet forward at the correct speed. This creates a "slip" where the drive gear continues to rotate while the roller remains stationary or lags. The specific clicking sound is the result of the drive gear teeth skipping or the clutch mechanism slipping under tension. Because the motor is still attempting to push the paper into the fuser path, the mechanical stress manifests as a rhythmic grinding noise on the right side, where the primary drive assembly is located. You can confirm this by observing the paper: if the sheet barely moves or "stutters" before the noise begins, the issue is almost certainly a loss of friction on the pickup roller rather than a catastrophic gear failure.

How to Fix It

To resolve this, you must restore the tactile grip of the pickup roller and clear any obstructions in the feed path.

1. Power down the printer and unplug the power cord from the wall to prevent accidental movement of the carriage.
2. Remove all paper from the main input tray. Completely slide the tray out of the chassis to gain a clear line of sight into the internal feed area.
3. Locate the rubber pickup roller situated at the rear-right of the paper entry slot. It is a grey, cylindrical rubber ring.
4. Dampen a lint-free microfiber cloth with warm distilled water. Avoid using rubbing alcohol or harsh chemicals, as these can dry out the rubber and cause it to crack, worsening the slip.
5. Press the cloth firmly against the rubber roller and manually rotate the roller (if possible) or gently wiggle the paper guide to ensure you clean the entire 360-degree circumference of the rubber.
6. Inspect the "separation pad"—the small rubber piece opposite the roller—for any stuck fragments of paper or adhesive. Wipe this area clean as well.
7. Dry the rollers completely with a dry section of the cloth.
8. Reinsert the paper tray, ensuring the paper guides are snug against the stack but not pinching the sheets, and restart the printer.

If That Didn't Work

• Inspect for Foreign Objects: Use a high-intensity flashlight to look deep into the right side of the paper path. Even a tiny piece of a torn envelope or a staple can jam the gear assembly, causing the motor to grind. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to carefully remove any debris found near the pickup assembly.
• Reset the Paper Feed Mechanism: Perform a hard power reset by unplugging the printer from the wall and holding the power button for 15 seconds. Plug it back in directly to a wall outlet (avoiding surge protectors for this test) to ensure the motor is receiving full voltage to overcome the initial friction.
• Check Paper Weight and Settings: If you are using heavy cardstock or labels, the standard pickup setting may be insufficient. Go to the printer's embedded web server (EWS) or the HP Smart app and change the "Paper Type" from Plain Paper to "Heavy" or "Cardstock." This adjusts the motor torque and timing to prevent the gear slip.
• Replace the Pickup Roller Assembly: If the rubber has become "glazed" (shiny and hard), cleaning will not work. You will need to replace the pickup roller assembly. This involves removing the right-side chassis panel to access the drive gear and swapping the worn rubber ring for a new OEM part.

Heads Up

• Avoid using "rubber regenerator" sprays or silicone lubricants on the rollers; these create a slippery surface that will lead to immediate paper jams.
• Always fan your paper stack before loading it into the tray to break the static bond between sheets, which reduces the strain on the pickup motor.
• If you frequently print labels, ensure they are fed from the tray in small batches to prevent adhesive seepage from coating the pickup rollers.
• Keep the printer in a climate-controlled environment; extreme dryness can cause the rubber rollers to shrink and harden, leading to the clicking noise described.