Epson EcoTank L18050 Print head clog

[J Cars]

The printer is just over a year old, still on the original ink (little less than half left). I print something at least every week and it's usually 4 x 6 prints of toys and animals for my grandson.
After my 3800 died I looked for something not quite Pro level as I wasn't printing much at home. I decided to try the EcoTank and I'm disappointed with the print quality but it is meeting my current demands, or at least it was. The yellow nozzle has clogged and the cleaning function hasn't worked, I went through the process a few times and waited 12hrs and did it again for a couple days thinking the process might soften the clog, but it hasn't responded at all.
I recall one of the senior members Jose had a video for cleaning the 3800 and that worked for me years ago. I was just wondering if that method could be used on these newer printers. Jose would fold a paper towel and put it in the print track, he used Windex for a cleaning agent. I think this method of soaking the printhead in a cleaning agent would work. Does this sound reasonable?
I'm from the West Coast and now live in the United Arab Emirates. This printer seems to be unknown in the US. The nearest Epson Service Center is about 120 miles away. I hope to fix this at home.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

There are sevearl acctions and options to go after such clog - placing a piece of kitchen paper under the printhead in the printpath and soaking it with a cleaner is one of it. Pull the power cord shortly after you turned on the printer and the head starts moving.
The next step would be an action to flush the nozzels of the printhead - just search for videos with 'Epson printhead flushing' or similar, there should be several clips showing how to do that. You may find as well videos for Epson printhead dampers' showing how to get them out.
But there is another option - there is no ink in the printhead and ink path - the damper and the tubing which could be caused by heat or a very low usage rate. Dampers are cartidge like inserts into the printhead carriage and have a format similar to ink cartridges - the dampers connect the ink tubes to the ink receptacle at the bottom of the printhead carriage. There should not be visible air in the tubes and a small amount of ink stored in these dampers.
you can easily remove a cover over the ink tubes at the carriage. So there are various similar video clips dealing with the dampers and the inkjet flushing for Epson printheds.

 

[J Cars]

There are sevearl acctions and options to go after such clog - placing a piece of kitchen paper under the printhead in the printpath and soaking it with a cleaner is one of it. Pull the power cord shortly after you turned on the printer and the head starts moving.
The next step would be an action to flush the nozzels of the printhead - just search for videos with 'Epson printhead flushing' or similar, there should be several clips showing how to do that. You may find as well videos for Epson printhead dampers' showing how to get them out.
But there is another option - there is no ink in the printhead and ink path - the damper and the tubing which could be caused by heat or a very low usage rate. Dampers are cartidge like inserts into the printhead carriage and have a format similar to ink cartridges - the dampers connect the ink tubes to the ink receptacle at the bottom of the printhead carriage. There should not be visible air in the tubes and a small amount of ink stored in these dampers.
you can easily remove a cover over the ink tubes at the carriage. So there are various similar video clips dealing with the dampers and the inkjet flushing for Epson printheds.

I tried turning the printer on and waiting for the printhead to cycle and then unplug it. The printhead barely moves so I'll try flushing out the nozzle as soon as the kit arrives from Amazon.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Just print something - even the nozzle check und pull the power cord during the print action.

 

[J Cars]

Just print something - even the nozzle check und pull the power cord during the print action.

OK, thanks for the help. I'm pretty mechanical but I don't know much about printers so I'm being careful.

 

[Epatcola]

The yellow nozzle has clogged

When a printer has 180 nozzles for each color what does "The yellow nozzle" mean?

 

[J Cars]

OK, thanks for the help. I'm pretty mechanical but I don't know much about printers so I'm being careful.

Thanks, I did the soak and it broke the clog up and all is well. Thanks for your help.

 

[J Cars]

When a printer has 180 nozzles for each color what does "The yellow nozzle" mean?

It means I don't know much about printers but I build my own computers and retired from designing highways for the State. I tried to know everything but didn't have time or the inclination to learn printers.

 

[Smile]

It means I don't know much about printers but I build my own computers and retired from designing highways for the State. I tried to know everything but didn't have time or the inclination to learn printers.

Dont' worry this is very nice forum, I'm sure we can help you with suggestions how to fix the clog.

You could try remove and prime the dampers (if they are empty) with syringe to make sure ink actually gets to print head. Maybe the clog is just air.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Thanks, I did the soak and it broke the clog up and all is well. Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the feedback that the clog is removed the printer is working again