MP600R weird streaks on printouts

[Benius]

Hi everyone,

I've just found this awesome place of printer knowledge, where people actually solves problems regarding inkjet printers, I had to register

I have this Canon Pixma mp600r printer it started acting strange a while back.
This is the scanned image of how it prints out. (sorry that it is just the link, since new members can't add images)

img94.imageshack.us/img94/4710/image14bp.jpg

Cartriges are OEM. Always refilled with Activejet ink. I usually print a few color pages with text a week. This problem started a bit after I had about 2000 color pages printed for an avent in a period of 4 days

Had the the cartridges swapped (have two sets). Nozzle check seems to be ok. If I select best quality in printer settings it solves the problem most of the time. Cleaned the printhead manually with some head cleaning solution as well as the head contacts on the head itself and the printer.

Does the printhead needs to be replace (new printer - cheaper) or this is some sort of mainboard problem, or something else entirely? Really appreciate any help

 

[PeterBJ]

From your picturure it is seen that the problem is caused by ink starvation. It looks to me like magenta is the problem. Could you try printing a black and white picture? A B/W picture will clearly show what color is the problem. Magenta missing causes a green cast to a B/W picture. See this thread for a similar problem I had: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7744 . In my case it was a cartridge problem maybe caused by a wrong refill technique.

The problem could be caused by two things, either the magenta(?) cartridges do not feed enough ink to the nozzles, when ink demand is high, which it is in printing pictures, or there is a blockage of the fine ink channels in the upper black plastic part of the printhead. When printing a nozzle check, ink demand is much lower and the problem may not show up.

Hopefully the problem is a cartridge problem. Even if it is a bit expensive I suggest buying a new Canon OEM magenta cartridge and see if that solves the problem. If it does then purging and drying the cartridges before refilling them again might solve the problem.

If the new OEM cartridge makes no difference the problem is in the printhead which will need cleaning. But before doing anything to the printhead, please ask the forum first. Printheads are easily damaged when cleaned outside the printer, and water left in places where it doesn't belong can cause a short circuit that ruins not only the printhead but also the mainboard (logic board).

There is a 24 hour waiting period before new members can post links and upload pictures. Instructions are here: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=107#p107 so tomorrow you will be able to upload pictures.

 

[The Hat]

I have two questions for you to answer.

Which method of refilling do you use, Original top or German method
with your OEM carts and are you using a resetter on the chips ?

Are your prints coming out the same as your uploaded image,
when you use both sets of cartridges or just with one set ?

Now from looking at your posted image I reckon your print head is ok for the moment,
so please dont do any more printing till you can resolve your print problems.

I think your suffering from poor ink flow from one or more of your cartridges (Starvation)
its hard to tell from the image you choose to upload what exactly is going on.

The best way for us to be certain which cartridges your having problems with is to print a nozzle check
and then upload that so we can make a better judgement on the print problem.

As I mentioned earlier please reframe from printing anything other than nozzle checks
its just a cautionary measure to protect your print head from any further damage.

Ops I see Peter just pip me..

 

[Benius]

Thank your for your time

To refill the cartridges I just slowly drop ink on the cartridge ink exit hole until some ink is visible just above the sponge (when in normal position). This king of refilling method might be the problem then, if the sponge just got worn out by refilling this way, since I noticed that magenta cartridges on both sets were not absorbing the ink fast as the others.
But the problem persist on both sets of cartridges, so it might be the channels in the head, but might as well be the cartridges, since as I mentioned they are not as absorbant as the others.

I will print and post the nozzle check and some B/W pictures tomorrow And I'll try purging one magenta cartridge and then refilling it, if that does not help - OEM cartridge it is.

I'm just glad that I might not need a new head/printer, since I really like this one

 

[websnail]

One question not asked... How old is your refill ink?

 

[PeterBJ]

Benius wrote:

To refill the cartridges I just slowly drop ink on the cartridge ink exit hole until some ink is visible just above the sponge (when in normal position). This king of refilling method might be the problem then, if the sponge just got worn out by refilling this way, since I noticed that magenta cartridges on both sets were not absorbing the ink fast as the others.
But the problem persist on both sets of cartridges, so it might be the channels in the head, but might as well be the cartridges, since as I mentioned they are not as absorbant as the others.

This method of refilling is not recommended for the PGI-5/CLI-8 cartridges used in your printer. I think it is intended for refilling the HP 364/564 NON XL cartridges which are similar to the Canon cartridges but have the ink reservoir sealed off.

To refill the cartridges I just slowly drop ink on the cartridge ink exit hole until some ink is visible just above the sponge ...

This indicates to me that the sponges were overfilled and the vent might be blocked by ink and causing the problems

...I noticed that magenta cartridges on both sets were not absorbing the ink fast as the others...

This indicates to me that the cartridges may need purging as the sponges might be blocked from dried ink.

So I suggest that you try a new magenta OEM Canon cartridge to see if this solves the problem.

You find instructions for purging the cartridges here: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8228 and here: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8404 .

When purging the cartridges the sponges in the CLI-8 dye ink cartridges become white or almost white. You cannot get the sponges in the PGI-5 pigment black cartridges white. When the color of the sponges has changed from black to a uniform medium grey and the water runs clear from the cartridge, purging is OK.

For drying the cartridges after purging see this: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=34175#p34175

As the easiest way of purging the cartridges needs removing the sealing ball over the ink compartment and subsequent sealing of the refill hole using a suitable plug, I recommend refilling using the topfill method, as the cartridge is now prepared for this refill method. This method is popular and tried and tested. Other popular methods are the German refill Method and the more experimental Freedom refill method, but I recommend starting with the topfill method.

For instructions on the topfill method for Canon cartridges see this thread: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6264&p=1

Note in posts #1 and #4 that there are two different ways the top fill can be performed, either with or without sealing the vent. It is necessary to use one of these methods to avoid overfilling the sponge compartment and blocking the vent with ink. Also note post #12. It is very important that the refill hole is sealed completely airtight after the refill, else the cartridge will leak.

I hope some of this will help and that the problem is a cartridge problem and not a printhead problem.

 

[mikling]

Judging by the patterns , my guess is that there is oversaturation of the sponges occurring and ink is leaking out the nozzles.
A new magenta cartridge will likely fix the problem. If it were a shortage of ink normally I would expect to see more banding happening. My .02 pence.