iP4200 BK disappeared

[stratman]

the "new" iP4200 that seems to suffer from mechanical problems.

I, too, find it difficult to believe the printer just ran out of ink and the owner shelved it instead of buying a new cartridge. Who knows?

Maybe a biological is involved in the loss of PGBK. Good thought! "Dregs" certainly conjures thoughts of biologicals, settled pigment particles, and/or effects of desiccation. I suppose there could be widespread disruption of biologicals within the channels of the nozzles during a soaking that could lead to a complete blockage of all nozzles at the same time. And, how to explain how all the nozzles returned to functions at a later time without any intervention?

It is a puzzle. One thing I would have done is on the day I discovered PGBK return to function I would have bought a lottery ticket.

I think no cleaning can save a print head blocked from biological growth.

Chemicals can kill the biological. But, how would one clear the clog? Ink clogs are soluble given a proper solvent. A solvent that would melt a biological might also damage the channels/nozzles, PCB board or tracings. Could it be as simple as alcohol to kill followed by a syringe modified to fit onto the ink port of the print head and then using gentle pressure to flush out the contaminant?

Maybe a forum member can advise on a specific biological killer and method of clearing the clog without damaging the print head.

to get the "old" iP4200 working again with PGBK would be to install the print head from the "new" iP4200

That would be my second choice. I would reinstall the "new" print head back into the "new" printer to see if it works and what issues it might have. My reasoning is that if the "new" printer functions properly then use it and shelf the current printer for potential future use. I would only use the "new" print head in the current printer if certain malfunctions of the "new" printer are found, like purge pump bad, etc.

Importantly, if the "new" printer or print head is not functioning properly then we know what that issue(s) is and can then discriminate that issue from a problem that is unique to the current printer, if and when we use the "new" print head in the current printer. If we go straight to using the "new" print head in the current printer, bypassing trying it out in the "new" printer, then we may not know if any problem that occurs is due to the "new" print head or the current printer.

 

[The Hat]

Cut out all this shenanigans and go back to my original suggestion in post#31
Painful, but honest and true…

 

[stratman]

Cut out all this shenanigans

Says Mister 3D Shenanigans himself!

C'mon, boyo, let the lad carry on to his own conclusion. Some things one needs to finish come hell or high water.

 

[elenhil]

I don't know what is in "Amway". Do you have a link where I can read the chemical ingredients? There are chemicals I wouldn't soak a print head in, for instance too much ammonia.

Here you go.

And they couldn't buy another cartridge?

You may find it strange, but that seems to be rather common here. People buy a relatively cheap 'photo printer', play with it for some time, then, I suppose, find that the price of 1st party ink is high, and their interest in printing is low (plus the digital age with its 24h screen time makes printed photos so 1990s). So they just abandon the gadget. Hence the plethora of second-hand printers on sale with the common refrain 'the ink had run out, haven't used it for years'.

 

[elenhil]

Cut out all this shenanigans and go back to my original suggestion in post#31
Painful, but honest and true…

And that after all the talk of Cadillacs? You're breaking my heart, guys.

 

[The Hat]

And that after all the talk of Cadillacs? You're breaking my heart, guys.

I’m trying to let you down gently, and not dump you out of the Cadillac moving…
The print head is Fubar...

 

[stratman]

Here you go.

Our trusty Moderator The Hat's favorite washing up liquid - Fairy.

Fairy ingredients

Good thing the alcohol is denatured or some people would be farting bubbles.

Trivia: Fairy is the UK equivalent to Dawn in the US.

 

[The Hat]

Our trusty Moderator The Hat's favorite washing up liquid - Fairy.
Fairy ingredients
Good thing the alcohol is denatured or some people would be farting bubbles.
Trivia: Fairy is the UK equivalent to Dawn in the US.

This thread could be turning into a new soap, if you’re not careful..

 

[stratman]

This thread could be turning into a new soap

1. All My Children Printers
2. General Refillers Hospital
3. The Young Nozzle Checks and the Restless
4. As the World Printer Profile Turns
5. Guiding Light Of PeterBJ
6. One Life 5B00 Error to Live
7. Search for Tomorrow a Service Tool
8. Another World Printer
9. Ryan's the Hat's Hope
10. Printaholic Days of Our Lives
11. The Doctors Ink Stained Fingers
12. Love of Life Printing
12. The Edge of Night Color Management
14. For Richer, For Poorer

 

[elenhil]

I'm still soaking my 'new' head. Getting a bit of OCD here as it still bleeds PGBK a bit (what looks like a couple of drops per day). I suppose I do need to clean in *thoroughly*, don't I?