Ink Flow Problem

[jaxink]

This is my first post here. I have learned a lot reading different topics. I successfully reloaded my Canon ip4500 carts using the German method learned here.

I am having problems printing text. My nozzle test shows a white gap in the middle of the PGBK test grid. I have cleaned the print head with Windex. It looks clean. Have done this before with one of the colors when started to print bands with success. Looking at the waste ink pads, I can fill the color pad with Windex and it gets cleared out with the normal purge cycle. The thin narrow black pad still looks full and it looks like some ink has splattered inside there. I am using an oem cart for PGBK. I had trouble getting a refilled PGBK cart to print - had trouble with the ink flowing. I am using Hobbicolors ink for my refills.

Does this sound like a flow problem with PGBK ink and how do I get the ink flowing going again?

Thanks.

 

[Trigger 37]

jaxink,... Then your BLACK printhead is still clogged. Have you removed it and REALLY CLEANED IN IN YOU LAUNDRY ROOM SINK BY FLUSHING ALL OF THE INK OUT OF THE PRINTHEAD. How did you use Windex to clean the head?????

I have posted a detailed description on how to clean all Canon printheads on this website. Search for it and follow it.

 

[jaxink]

I have cleaned the printhead by putting windex on the screen of the print head and by soaking in windex saturated paper towel. I will search for your printhead cleaning thread.

Thanks.

 

[jaxink]

I found the thread on cleaning the print head and washed it throughly under hot water until all the colors came out. I let it set for 24 hours and tried a nozzle test. The colors print ok as was before but now there is absolutely no trace of the black text or grid pattern. This is worse than it was before. I guess the text print capability is shot.

 

[Trigger 37]

jaxink,... You need to print a nozzle check and post it. I'm sure you followed directions and got the head totally dry before you put it back. There can be nothing wrong with your head if you did it right. Either the remaining problem is with your ink carts, or the purge unit, or you did not do a full cleaning cycle after you put the head back. Do another cleaning cycle and print only a nozzle test print and scan and post it.

 

[jaxink]

Here is a nozzle test before I rinsed the print head. Notice big white gap:

Here is the nozzle test after the water rinse and after a deep cleaning cycle on the black text ink only:

I have also tried a new oem black cart with the same results. I wonder whether the purge unit may have a problem.

Thanks.

 

[ghwellsjr]

Yes, judging from your first post, since the Windex that you put on the narrow purge pad remains after it is sucked away on the square pad, then you have a purge unit problem. Sometimes it is just in the pad itself and can be fixed by removing the pad and cleaning it in Windex. Put it to your lips and make sure you can easily suck and blow air through it. Then use Windex-soaked cotton swabs to clean out the inside of the rubber tray. When you get it clean, put some Windex in the rubber tray and do a cleaning cycle to see if it gets sucked away. If not, you will probably have to take your printer apart to clear the tubing that comes out of the bottom of the purge pump. I have not been able to clear a purge system from the top without taking the printer apart. If you are lucky and the Windex gets sucked away from the rubber tray, then put the pad back in with the notched corner in the rear left position.

It's important that you don't take too long to do this process because the nozzles will be unprotected from the air and they can dry out.

 

[jaxink]

I will try to clean the pad tomorrow and let you know. Thanks for the info.

 

[lin]

Hi jaxink, are you using Dye or Pigment for PGI-5BK before the problem arise for the PGI-5BK nozzle check?

May I suggest that you find a PGI-5BK cart and refilled with dye ink for the moment (temporary solution). Or just get one 3rd party PGI-5BK cart that is filled with dye ink for the moment. It's perfectly alright to use dye ink in PGI-5BK except that you lose the waterproof feature for text printing. Do one cleaning cycle for the PGI-5BK so that the dye ink is pull inside into the printhead and let it sits for many hours before you do a nozzle check print.

Once your PGI-5BK nozzle check returns to normal, then you could decide what you want to use for your PGI-5BK.

 

[Trigger 37]

jaxink,...While ghwellsjr,... gave you some good answers, i think you are looking at a disconnected Black suction tube from the purge unit. The first nozzle test show some amout of black ink but was fading out when means it was almost out of ink when you printed that nozzle test. Then you many have printed something else before you got my instructions to clean the head. Once it was clean there was no ink in it at all, and this was after the purge unit did a cleaning clycle and attempted to prime the black nozzles. It did not prime because the suction tuble is disconnected. You have no choice but to take the printer apart and find the broken connection and put it back together. However, once you have gone that far you might as well clean everything else that requires cleaning. Send me an email and I'll tell you how to do the rest. I have a simple test I can send you that will prove the purge unit is broken.