Is my MX925 dead?

[FryingSaucer]

A few years ago this thread gave me a lot of help which allowed me to resurrect my ip4600. Now my MX925 no longer prints yellow.

I've tried most of what was suggested in the above thread: run several cleaning cycles, a deep cleaning cycle, checked the yellow appears to be purging OK, an initial clean of printhead by dabbing repeatedly in paper towels soaked in the UK equivalent of Windex.

The next step would be to thoroughly clean the printhead as recommended by ghwellsjr in the ip4600 thread. This fixed my ip4600, but it took several days.

So my question is whether the printhead is likely to be the problem, based on the nozzle check, and whether it's worth spending time cleaning it.

This was the nozzle check print. I'd a lot of trouble scanning, and it's not a true representation (particularly the BK), but it does give an idea of the lines displayed in the yellow part of the print.

Also, when I removed the printhead, there was some dried ink on the yellow pad.

So do you think it's worth doing more extensive cleaning of the printhead?

 

[stratman]

So do you think it's worth doing more extensive cleaning of the printhead?

If you like the printer.

For now, no more printing other than nozzle checks.

I would soak the print head in liquid dish washing soap such as Fairy or Dawn in a bowl. Dilute with water like you would for cleaning dishes. Sit the print head on wadded up paper towels and push the print head up and down on the towels every so often to force the soak through the print head. Soak for at least one day, longer if you can stand it. You may heat up the soaking solution to lukewarm but do not heat the print head at the same time!

Hopefully will clear up the Magenta (and Cyan?) missing nozzles, too.

 

[FryingSaucer]

If you like the printer.

I don't like it as much as the ip4600 I eventually scrapped, but enough to try more cleaning.

Thanks for the response. I used window cleaner to soak the ip4600 printhead. Do you think washing soap is just as good?

 

[stratman]

Do you think washing soap is just as good?

May be better depending on the issue.

Rinse/Flush the print head well with water before and after the soaking and then let dry.

 

[The Hat]

If you are unable to recover your print head, you might try looking at a Maxify model, you’ve not had much luck with any of the printer you’ve had so far, but I reckon the Maxify with suit you better, it’s a lot tougher than most and it too can be refilled very easily...
Check them out...

 

[FryingSaucer]

If you are unable to recover your print head, you might try looking at a Maxify model, you’ve not had much luck with any of the printer you’ve had so far, but I reckon the Maxify with suit you better, it’s a lot tougher than most and it too can be refilled very easily...
Check them out...

You're absolutely right. ip4500, ip4600, MG5250, MX925 - none have lasted that long for me. They also seem to have got progressively less reliable, and certainly more difficult to fill. If I can't fix my printer, my next post would have been to ask about alternative Canon printers.

Thanks, I really appreciate your suggestion.

 

[FryingSaucer]

I've spent some days cleaning the print head till no more ink came out, unfortunately with no success. The yellow is unchanged, and the cyan and magenta still have some streaks.

So now I will investigate a Maxify as a replacement as The Hat suggested.

 

[FryingSaucer]

I decided to continue with the MX925. I bought a new print head for about 1/2 the cost of a new printer.

 

[The Hat]

I bought a new print head for about 1/2 the cost of a new printer.

Where... ? ?

 

[Redbrickman]

If it all goes pear shaped I can thoroughly recommend the Maxify range. I have the 5150 and it's fast and the output quaity of print is great.