just to clarify what i found in the pan wasn't shreds of paper. it was a flat chunk about 1/4" x 1/4" x 1/32". hard like an old gasket. brown on one side and dark brown to black on the other. it wouldn't fit down the filler tube. the rods look ok but i'll look a little closer. after the drain and fill it runs a little better but still slipping a bit.
john