Canon MP730 vertical head alignment problem

[Trigger 37]

lin,.. what I noticed when I fixed my timing strip was that none of the items I fixed were visible. I could not see the problem of the grease on the timing strip until I held the light in a different angle, then the grease smears were visible. Once I took of the entire timing strip and cleaned it from end to end, I finally got all the grease off and resolved the problem. If you are still having 1mm of offset, there is something more on the the timing strip.

 

[lin]

Hi Trigger37, I had already cleaned the timing belt as suggested sometime back as updated at post #18. Before I cleaned the timing belt, the original problem jagged bar split about 3mm (not precise value). After cleaning the timing belt and even have the black dot removed (a new belt), there is still a slight 1mm shift differential (not precise value) like your post #17, 3rd & 4th pictures. If you look hard, you will notice there is still a 1mm differential in your 3rd & 4th pictures.

So the machine that you previously worked on that has the slight shifting, is this slight shift all completely gone?

 

[Trigger 37]

lin,...My jaggged edge went away when I removed the timing strip and cleaned it and did another alignment. Are you saying you purchased a new timing strip and you still have the problem.????

If this is the case I can only think of one other problem. The timing strip passes though the back of the Carriage ASM where the photocell is located. The timing strip "Touches the reference surface of the photocell. If there is any dirt or grease on those edges, it may change the timing ot the strip when in senses from the right or from the left. It is basically the difference in timing from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

 

[lin]

Hi Trigger37, yes the timing strip has been replaced. Not too sure if I was given a new or it's a used timing strip. I would not say the problem is still there. Because supposingly cleaning the timing strip should resolves the jagged edges issues. Previously my jagged edge were like the post #8 illustration. Much like your 1st picture in most #17 & the picture by thread starter, sxd. All printouts are unbearable to read and look at.

And after performing the suggested cleaning time strip, it readily reduces or removes almost all jagged edges. Printout appear more easy on the eyes as the contents do not go all split up horizontally or appearing as if having double vision. The alignment is almost perfect without the jagged black block except the 1mm shift top & bottom bar. The 1mm jagged is so minimal now compare to what was before the cleaning of the timing strip. It's like your 3rd & 4th picture at post #17. There is this slight shift that is still there. It's not really noticeable. But I could see it. I thought the black dot on the timing strip could have cause the 1mm shift since grease is capable of causing a major jagged 3mm shift. I have the timing strip replaced because I couldn't remove the dot with alcohol since I suppose it's pigment ink. But the 1mm shift didn't go away after the replacement of the timing strip.

I asked this before at post #18. Do you have any idea if using ammonia based cleaning solution to remove the pigment ink on the timing strip will it accidentally remove the logic count of lines on the strip? I wanted to know just in case in future pigment ink splash onto the timing strip again. Though apparently the dot on the timing strip didn't affect the jagged 'horizontal alignment' issue from the fact that it's a replacement strip.

 

[Trigger 37]

lin,.. If you ever get another ink spot on the timing strip, the Canon Maintenance recommdation is to use Isopropyl Alcohol to remove the ink spot. Don't every use anything stronger as that wil destroy one or more of the timing marks on the timing strip.

At least you have it working again.

 

[sxd]

Thanks to everyone for participating. I've finally fixed the 'alignment' problem. I just cleaned the timing strip as you suggested with an alcohol and it works now!
But. Since I was not using printer for awhile the ink dried out. I've refilled the cartridges with the ink and it printed only the black and blue colors. So, I cleaned the print head with an alcohol and then the windex (by soaking the nozzles only into it) as lots of folks suggested. Then ran the nozzle check and it seem to work. Eight hours later I tried to use it again and had only black, blue and some greenish colors. Pulled the print head out and found that it's bottom covered with the blued ink. In addition that blue ink got into the yellow and red cartridges, so, now it's green and something else colors!!!
How is it possible? And what is wrong with it?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Trigger 37]

sxd, It sounds like either you have a leak in the Cyan ink cart that is flooding the park pads with Cyan ink. As the head sits there for any log period, the Cyan ink (if flooded in the pad) will WICK back up into the other colors. The purge unit is supposed to operate every now and then and suck any residual ink out of the pads and down into the waste area. It can't do this fast enough if you ink cart is leaking ink.

Here are some questions that I need to know before I would suggest any thing else to do. Do you refill your own ink. What ink Carts do you use. What brand of ink. When you cleaned your head, did you use excessive hot water or strong % of alcohol.

Once your ink carts are contaminated, your only choice is to flush them and clean them till they are white, and then evacuate any left over water and dry them. Then you can refill them as new. You have to clean the parking pads of any excess ink. Just flood the pads with warm water and power the printer on and off a couple of times, checking the pads each time to see if they have gone back to white. You will also probably have to rinse all the ink out of the printhead again and dry it completley.

 

[Bertil]

After having read all the favorable reports on Hobbycolors ink I decided to test.I print with a Canon Pixma 4000 and I know that the ink I bought is meant for the new Pixmas 4200 and upward -I have a 4200 not yet unpacked.Good service and a low price.But:All the photos I tried to print were much too green and I had to compensate with magenta +25 yellow +15 and also lower brightness.The same applied to my different brands of fotopapers-no difference between the brands.In some cases my printer "refused" to obey my correction.Some kind of automatic?Perhaps I should mention I have done a lot of analog color enlarging and am used to correcting colors. I then went back to my trusted MIS-ink and as usual everything was in perfect order and new MIS-ink is on its way to here.Anyone with similar experiences?Should I expect a better result from my 4200 if I start using it?Bertil Sweden

 

[Trigger 37]

Bertil,,,, This is a strange place to post information and/or problems with various brands of ink. The MP730 is a work horse of a Multifunction machine and is very fast. It is based on the i850 guts and is as fast as the i560 printer. However, neither of them where ever the best for doing higher quality photos. Now when you start to talk about your iP4200, which is still in the box, that is a much better printer in ALL Cases.

It has been my experience to find one mfg of ink that works with your printer and paper and stick with them. For me I use Ilford paper and Image Specialists ink which I believe is MIS ink. they have alwasy been perfect and I have never found a reason to change. I use my MP730 only for heavy duty work, faxing, copies, scanning, but never for photo printer. I have a iP6600D that I use for photos and an Epson 1280 for large format pictures. Sounds like you have found one that works and I suggest that you stick with them.

 

[Bertil]

Sorry I put my message into the wrong place.Do you really mean that my unpacked Canon 4200 would be a better printer than my old one?To me the entry into digital "enlarging" was a great step and so easy compared to the analog system.Could I expect even better results with an Epson printer of high quality?I use several cameras -Pentax 10 D ,Pentax 20 D and Canon Powershot and others.Compared to my "old" photography I feel quite happy with the new results.I use Coral Paint Shop Pro 8 and the new X2 Ultimate which is a disappointment.As you can understand I dont know so much about computers but yet enough for my needs.What I perhaps didnt like about MIS was the fade resistance but I can live with that .Finally thank you for your good advice which I will stick to from now on.
Bertil