Digital BW, The Print

Has anyone encountered this behavior and found a fix.

Situation:
Printer - Epson 2200 (using UC inks, not that I think that matters)
Image size - 8x10
Paper size - letter with image centered
Paper - Ilford smooth pearl, although it happens with others (e.g. EEM)
Software - QTR

The last few passes of the print head seem to swipe the paper as its
trailing edge passes by leaving a smear of black ink on the image and
border. If I lift the leading edge of the paper up at this stage of printing
the effect is reduced and is confined to the side of the paper nearest the
head parking position.

This doesn't happen with color images printed with the Epson driver. I
suspect that's because the Epson driver does not print as close to the
papers trailing edge without a warning (which I typically heed), as QTR
does.

I've noticed that inside the printer just downstream from the print head
path is a platen with a lot of little wheels with a squiggly metal rim
(pizza wheels?). This platen is raised and does not seem to contact the
paper is it passes. I vaguely recall lifting that bar sometime in the past,
but not doing anything specific to hold it up permanently. I'm wondering if
that might be my problem. 

Any suggestions or ideas how to fix or investigate this problem further
before I take the beast to Epson for repair?

Tom Moore