My DaVinci 1.0 running repetier firmware
and run by Repetier host

That dingus atop the extruder has nothing to do with loading filament
It is the release for the extruder
-- Remove filament
-- press it down and pull extruder assembly up and out

Atachment 1

-- this shows the extruder board separated from drive wheels

Attachment 2

This shows gear on stepper motor and idler to push filament
idler has light and dark segments but I didn't notice sensor to use them

Attachment 3

Here is the hot end
Attachment 4

The thermistor came out ( held in with RTV )

Attachment 5

I heated the hot end to 220deg C
Drilled out stuck filament with drill smaller than 1.75mm
And used 1.75 mm plunger to expel all ABS in hot end
I reinstalled the thermistor with some Hi Temp RTV
and aluminum and kapton tape

In all the twisting of wires -- one of the wires to heating element
broke off right at ceramic
I installed a new heater slug (after a lot of grinding out of the hole in hotend)

Looks like all is working well -- have to reassemble it all
and wait to see if it will function
and
just plug up again