Unresolved Inconsistent Extrusion Problems (grinding/jamming)

R1 purchased Feb,2015
PLA: 205-210-215 celcius
BED: 50
Seasoned Head + Oiler
Top mount PLA feeder with bearings
Flash forge RED filament
Seacans blue filament

I'm Lost as to what to do next:
OVERVIEW: having issues with grinding/getting first layer to evenly lay down. tried tape, hairspray etc. I don't think it has to do with bed adhesion at this point though (read on why). I just noticed that I see black coming through my prints, notice nozzle is loose and PLA all over the top so I remove the PLA ooze and tighten up the nozzle (did not take everything apart).
Problem: still can't get the material to consistently extrude.
I've raised the nozzle a couple inches off the bed and extruded 100mm at a time with varying temperatures to get the right consistency/flow. in doing that, what I noticed is sometimes nothing or very little comes out (i.e. grinding up the filament) while raised off the bed. could the nozzle be clogged? even though it extrudes normally for a bit?
I've cleaned out the hobbled bolt countless times (after it grinds). also tried other filament

so what's the issue? what do I check next?

 

Picture of a first layer?

Might be a jammed or leaking nozzle. Is anything coming out the top of the heater block?

 

first layer shouldn't matter. it's jamming without touching the bed. it WAS coming out of the top. I've since tightened it down.

 

pictures of the first layer will help me identify more symptoms.

If it's jamming in air, it's probably a clogged nozzle, a bad hobbed bolt, too tight on the tensioner, too much gunk on the hobbed bolt, etc

 

1) unclogging a nozzle is best done with?
2) How do you tell if it's a bad hobbled bolt?
3) no gunk on the hobbled bolt.

 

That is a mess, can you clear that off and do it again but with a closer picture.

 

could this be the issue

 

Sure could be

 

Is there a printable part I can try to print if I get it going. It takes a month to get replacement parts from Robo3d.

 

It's a standard greg's wade hinge, you can print robo's here: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:69794

 

Printed off a new hinge. took apart the nozzle and cleaned it. all good. while going over this process (I'm technically only 2 weeks into this) I found if there's too much back pressure (nozzle to close to bed) it will jam. the magnet raising caused it to create an uneven bed. re-leveled and all is good!