lost Magenta

[barfl2]

Success at last but achieved in an odd way. After 9 nozzle checks 2 cleans but NO DEEP CLEANS Print head clean (window cleaner) I was running out of ideas.

I reread The Hat ideas in particular taking a chip off a magenta and applying it to a yellow cart and then try that in the magenta position. For some reason it did'nt work got the wrong cartridge message. All I did was re-insert the original Magenta cart. There was then a long vigorous clean. The subsequent image is the nozzle check shown.

So what happened? the original bad cart flow suggestion proved correct. What caused it? Freedom method? but then the second cart was a topfill one.

I had hoped the Freedom method would give me a set of undrilled carts but now not so sure. The original Video by R-jettek showed only partly filled cart and I replicated that effect with my adapter and Box type Freedom kit. I think the problem starts with the multiple pumps and generation of a lot of air, but I may well be wrong. Gigigou seemed to show a complete fill but I could not replicate that, but his valve might have been different.

Many thanks to all and hope some knowledge has been accumulated. DRAT DRAT Expensive OEM cart is already on its way

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I think the problem starts with the multiple pumps and generation of a lot of air, but I may well be wrong.

The rule is, use extra ink if necessary so you never let air flow back into the cartridge. If you keep getting a lot of air out after about two pumps, then you have a leak. If the cartridge will not hold a vacuum, then you have a leak. It's easy to overlook a leak in the vent, but you really have to seal it while you are filling. I don't remember the RJettek video very well, but I seem to remember that there were some problems with it.

 

[barfl2]

Yes I had plenty of ink, but I am noticing with freedom method is that you need a fair bit of physical strength to pull the vacuum but what level of vacuum have you achieved? if all that effort and you rarely achieve more than 4/5ml hence the further pumps. I was under the impression that with each plunger movement you are pulling some ink out before returning hopefully with a larger amount.

And in my case I noticed a lot of foam in the syringe. Certainly sealing of the vent is very important, I find I get a much better seal with my box contraption (similar to the rjettek) because the vent is pshed up against a rubber pad and clamped by 2 screwed collars. On the smaller adaptor I usually use electrical tape which is probably not good enough.

When I was practising I use clear carts which give you a better idea of what is going on. What would be ideal to fill the cart in one go. I have tried to locate the syringe with the locking plunger without sucess so have adapted one but not entirely sucessful. The 3 way valve is a great help if you are running out of plunger travel, you lock of the cart and that enables you to push plunger right in and start again, which I needed for the PGBK.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I can fill my cartridges chock full with a few pumps. If I get out only 50% of the air each time, with 3 pumps I would have the cartridge 7/8 full.

I don't find that it takes a lot of force. Maybe 4 or 5 pounds on the plunger, I guess. I also had a lot of trouble with foam at first. I'm not sure if it was due to the seal or the brand of ink, since I changed both at the same time. But if you don't have a seal, it won't hold the vacuum, and if you do have a good seal, you won't notice a change in the force on the plunger, even after holding it for 20 or 30 seconds. If it holds a vacuum for a good 10 or 20 seconds but you still get a lot of foam, then your ink is just the foaming type, I guess. I use Stick-Tac to make a seal, but sometimes I need more Stick-Tac.

 

[barfl2]

I can fill my cartridges chock full with a few pumps. If I get out only 50% of the air each time, with 3 pumps I would have the cartridge 7/8 full.

I don't find that it takes a lot of force. Maybe 4 or 5 pounds on the plunger, I guess. I also had a lot of trouble with foam at first. I'm not sure if it was due to the seal or the brand of ink, since I changed both at the same time. But if you don't have a seal, it won't hold the vacuum, and if you do have a good seal, you won't notice a change in the force on the plunger, even after holding it for 20 or 30 seconds. If it holds a vacuum for a good 10 or 20 seconds but you still get a lot of foam, then your ink is just the foaming type, I guess. I use Stick-Tac to make a seal, but sometimes I need more Stick-Tac.

My pressure a lot higher tred a 7.5lb blance on the end of the plunger and it barely moved it. Another cause is that this method seems to ruin the syringe rubber seal pretty quick mine are pretty stiff. Using standard BD 60ml. Possibly you use shorter strokes than me, I was trying to follow the example shown by gigigou which is full stroke with a lock. I was trying to do the same but without a lock and found it really hard.

Anyway had another go with Magenta/Cyan carts but no go, as soon as I pull plunger with 10ml in I get a syringe full of foam so it looks like the IS inks I have are not suitable. As I do not want to cause any more problems with my printer will try Topfill again. Would like to further investigate some form of power vacuum method like the Video.

Anyway glad you are getting success with the Freedom method. I was also worried about ink getting into the maze in these opaque carts. experimenting with water and then ink just did'nt work for me.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I'll do this in English units. The cross-sectional area of a 60 mL syringe is slightly under 1 sq. in. If you remove half the air, that's 1/2 atmosphere, or 0.5 x 14.7 pound/sq. inch, or 7.4 pounds. I measured the friction on my syringe, and it's about 1.3 kg, or 2.9 lbs. to draw it, and zero to hold it. So that's 7.4+2.9 = 10.2 pounds to draw it, and 7.4 pounds to hold it. You can probably withdraw about 3/4 of the air in one stroke, and that would be 14 pounds to draw it. It doesn't seem excessive. The forces would be much smaller if you use a 10 mL syringe and a valve, but you will need many more strokes.

I have not had any problem with deterioration of my syringes. The plungers have rubber tips. I don't like the hard plastic tips.

With the first stroke or two you may have to wait until some of the foam collapses, depending on your ink. I think IS ink foamed a lot for me, but I'm not sure because I'm not sure how well the vent was sealed. I suspect that a rubber seal may leak at the edge of the label.

Good luck to you. I'm sure the top fill method will work well, and it may be a lot faster.