Lubricant for printer carriage mechanism

[Smile]

Canon printers have

1. steel bar

2. folded sheet metal

As print head carriage mechanism.

What lubricant is compatible, what to use?

So far I tried and these DO NOT WORK, the printer prints about 10-50 sheets A4 and begins to sqeek or print head carriage moves in seizing motion makes weird noises etc:

SKF Green grease LGGB 2/04
http://www.mapro.skf.com/products/lub_lggb2.htm

OKS 470 White,Universal Heavy Duty Grease
http://www.oks-india.com/user/pdf/OKS 470.pdf

CRC Multilube spray
http://www.crceurope.com/wwwcrc/tds/TCA3 MULTILUBE.PDF
http://www.crcind.com/csp/web/proddisp.csp?country=GE&product=MULTILUBE&business=AUTOMOTIVE&lng=3

ABRD SILICONE SPRAY LUBRICANT
http://www.abroeurope.com/Household Products.htm

So I'm open to your suggestions.

 

[websnail]

Took a bit of digging but I knew I'd seen this somewhere before:

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3868

 

[Ron350]

Smile do you only have the noise on the folded sheet metal bar printer?

 

[Smile]

Yes, you are right only folded sheet metal printer. The carriage parts are all plastic and surface are is very low, that is why lubrication is a problem. Damn canon for crippling the printer carriage mechanisms.

Today I re-lubed the printer after cleaning etc. with this grease:
Valvoline Multi-purpose Grease NLGI-2
Multi-purpose extreme pressure grease with superior adhesive properties. Excellent protection against wear and corrosion. NLGI-2. Operating temperature -20C - 180C
Color: Red

I can't find exact model on valvoline website, they have this red grease so it must be it, but the package is different.
http://www.valvoline.com/products/commercial-industrial-products/grease/74

So far (printing 5A sheets "photo paper pro" mode is OK.) No squeek noises. I wonder how it will work after a week.

 

[Smile]

Update

The Valvoline Multi-purpose Grease NLGI-2 works fine for "steel bar" type printer but the "folded sheet metal" need to be re-lubricated when lubricant turns black. There seems to be so much force that even industrial pressure lubricant can't stand it.

I wonder what canon uses, or it seems there printers are really single use machines. So when shopping for your next printer take a look at print head guide mechanism and don't buy a "folded sheet metal" type printer. Lately all printer makes EPSON, HP, Canon are using this cheap print head mechanism

 

[PeterBJ]

Checking some pictures and sketches in this simplified service manual for the ip4700: http://www.gondack.com.ar/media/useruploads/files/ip4700-ssm.pdf it looks to me like that printer is one of the "bent sheet metal" printers.

The recommended lubricant for the carriage rail is the same Floil KG107A , Canon part number qy9-0057-000 as is used on the older "steel rod" printers.

Doing a Google search on the part number I found it was available in both the EU and the US. price around 9 from: http://www.kuro-tecc.de/product_info.php?info=p84288_LUBE-FLOIL-KG107A-OIL.html and around 13 $ from https://www.executivecolor.com/item.asp?item=528398

I think the original lubricant will work better than any substitutes, but if it really is the original lubricant depends on what type of carriage rail is in the ip4700.

Peter.

 

[Smile]

Thanks for links, the original might work better, but even original (white) lube turns black. The problem is not the lube but the construction. Canon and other printer makes want to make sure you a not going to use printer for a long time.

 

[l_d_allan]

Canon printers have ...

Do you have any breakdown of which models have which kind of carriage mechanism? I infer than the "steel bar" is better than the "folded sheet metal".

My Pro-9000-2 appears to have a circular steel bar about 1/2" in diameter, but I'm fuzzy on whether I'm looking at the appropriate piece. The printer makes a lot of whir/spin/clunk/wheeze/gurgle/etc. noises while printing, but squeaks aren't among those noises ... yet?. Whew.

 

[PeterBJ]

Hi l_d_allan

The steel rod can be seen in picture no 1 by Smile. It is a shiny steel rod covered with a white grease, located about 1/2 inch above the flat white plastic pieces at the bottom of the printer.

The folded sheet metal rail can be seen in picture no 2 by Smile. It is a dull grey strip with a black stripe in the middle.

So if you see a steel rod when you open the lid on your printer, which is one of the top models, it the good old design.

Peter.

 

[Smile]

I don't have any breakdown of which models have which kind of carriage mechanism as it's hard to find photos of the inside of the printers. I would love too someone actually make such a list, perhaps somebody who lives in a large city with huge supermarket ?