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What does it mean when I can manually shove PLA through my hot end and it rushes out just fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyDwJiLbxXs

But then as soon as I print, nothing comes out and the extruder is choking? Sometimes it'll print the first and second layer just fine and then the third layer it's back to choking again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wdyZckdF5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwNWje45PWo

I'm using a Version 1 RostockMax with PLA. My hot end temperature is 210C and bed temp is 60C.

What temperature are you running? Your testing looks like it hella hot, there shouldn't be steam coming from the nozzle if the temp is correct.

Is your PEEK fan on while using PLA?

210C in the hot end.
60C on the bed.

No fan. Usually don't run the fan.

Why should I be using the fan on PLA? I've heard it many times but have never heard the reason. Is this my problem with the jams?

peek fan should be on 100% of the time, it keeps the hot area hot and the rest of the extruder cold. when you retract the filament and you dont have this peek fan it will jam because hot filament expands inside then sticks to the walls.

everytime you run your printer and dont have a peek fan, god kills a kitten
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/M ... kitten.jpg[/img]

Thank you that makes a lot of sense and would explain the change between my manually pushing it through and the motor pushing it though.

Poor little kitty!