Hot damn! Got my #makibox back up and printing. Just some small modifications left for the feed tube then I can begin print calibration! Just like I have been thinking the problem is the stock filament feeder. My frankenstein airtripper v3 does a far better job. #Disappointed
Looking at the Zen idler again, it has no way to deal with the friction, bearings are a good thing. That is why they are used everywhere. Adding a normal force to a wheel then removing the bearing is a path to failure.