How to go about flushing all ink out of a 3880?

[PeterBJ]

Congratulations with the progress, but please be careful with pressurising the print head. I have read about Epson print heads being ruined by de-lamination caused by applying too much pressure from the syringe.

 

[berserk]

I ditched my Epson 3000 because of one weak struggle of that one bar missing - also printing B/W with the same setup as You with QTR.
I have fought Epsons - began with three 1280:s year 2002 (one Paul Roark B//W one pigment and one OEM) and I suggest that You very CAREFULLY press in fluid into l the print head, then trying suck out the shit.

If it luckily can came in - there is place for it to get out.

In military we learnt if fastened in the wood or the swamps - same way out as in - what ever - even with a 60 ton tank!
You have just proved that that very particle could enter - new entrance is the track back where You came from and succeeded

Use the old track! (David Crocket.)

However - the shit will still be there between the dampers and the print head - and could hit again.

Some hours of joy is thou not to neglect!

Continue to berserk Your printer - great show - happy it's not mine!

 

[W. Fisher]

Success!!!

After 10 maintenance carts, maybe 50 power flushes with isopropyl alcohol/distilled water, and doing CPR poundings and pulling on the syringe with the modified cart in the PK cart tray, the thing has improved. All nozzles are now firing as they should with new inks installed.

The last PK flushing cart I used 99% isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of Kodak Photoflow 200 hoping whatever was at the last couple of PK nozzles would clear out and it did. Place smelled like a brewery due to the alcohol. Whew! Printer was saved from the scrap yard.

Top left in the photo below shows the first page I found under the stack of test pages when I began this mess. Not only were some nozzles not firing, the PK Black density was all over the place in the ones that were firing.

Guess I better not let it sit for 2-3 months without putting something through it. Maybe a page every couple of weeks would be better along with a vinyl cover and some potting soil water granules to keep the humidity up under the vinyl cover and maybe keep the thing from drying out, although I would think the capping station should hold some moisture there.

Good thing I found Joe "Toolmans" maintenance cart resetter gizmo on eBay. Ten carts might run up $250 otherwise.

W.F.

 

[berserk]

That's IT.

However or whatever the shit left is between the damper and the print head an will hit again. (Murphy's law)

Now we will celebrate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUbqPYUuJo

I love berserking! In a way here I recognized myself!

 

[The Hat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUbqPYUuJo

Darn it @berserk, did you have to tell everyone about Murphy’s place..

 

[berserk]

Those are Irish dancing!!!

 

[W. Fisher]

LOL! I think I dated the third from the left.

A video selfie the wife took after seeing me clear the damn nozzles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVTF-CtYVBo

Now to find some clear dye ink for another adventure....

W.F.

 

[berserk]

Yes..I guessed something like that!
Must be using a Pentax Somatic...

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

if you ever wanted to know what is happening at the nozzles - inkjets and all that - air bubbles you may read this
document (or give up after a short while)
https://ris.utwente.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/6085963
it's all a pretty dynamic affair

 

[berserk]

Ahhhh...now I understand!
Euler-rule and Poisson ratio must not be forgotten.

Thanks Ink Stained Fingers, at last an comprehensive simple description.
Do You think my unused matte black 80ml is enough to print it out ?