Need advice cleaning print head

[OM2]

OK... so I've done lots of research and am pretty clues up
+ I was given this link by Octoink: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=53386#p53386
(Great post)

I've washed carefully using warm water
The blue ink was the problem

But... when I look now, the yellow nozzle (or whatever you call it) seems to have a yellow stain that doesn't go away

I've soaked in distil water for 5 hours - but it hasn't shifter
I'm leaving overnight - what do I do if it still haven't shifted?
Move onto step 2 and use Windex (equivalent)?

I thought I'd ask here just incase my print head was dud and not worth trying to fix

You can see a picture here:

Thanks


Omar

 

[OM2]

anyone?

 

[fotofreek]

Omar - It might be a good idea to reinstall the printhead and ink carts, do a few deep cleanings, and print only a nozzle check. Be sure that the electrical contacts on the back of the printhead are absolutely dry before doing this. The yellow stain may not mean anything.

If you don't get a good nozzle check print you can then do the Windex soak. Place a piece of toweling paper, folded over a few times to make a pad that the printhead will sit on in a container that is small enough to keep the printhead upright. Pour in enough Windex to saturate the paper pad plus a bit more and sit the printhead on it. You can "pump" the printhead up and down to move the windex into the nozzles. Additionaly you can fill a syringe with windex and put a bit on each of the inlet screens. Continue to pump up and down. You may see ink stains on the paper and in the fluid coming up at the screens. You can move the printhead to a clean part of the windex-soaked paper and continue to pump it up and down. If you get to the point where no more ink stain is on the paper or in the liquid coming up through the inlet screens you can either wash out the windex, dry the contacts, reinstall, do a few deep cleanings, and try another nozzle check, or you can let the printhead soak for several hours, pump some more, and then recheck the nozzle print.

If this effort doesn't work, the cleaning cart approach might do the trick. I've never tried it, but cleaning carts were available commercially years ago, and a person who is really expert at unclogging Epson printheads had written a detailed procedure which included making cleaning carts as described by Octoink

 

[OM2]

@fotofreek, thanks for that - really helpful

something else... the yellow ink cart has very very dark yellow ink in
i'm not 100% sure if it was like this in the beginning
this was brand new - only purchased a few months ago and not even had a hole screwed in yet to refill - i'd say it has 80% ink left
any thoughts?

i'll do as you suggest and put it back in (after letting dry fully)

question: u refer to 'pumping' and do i do that?

thanks

 

[fotofreek]

No need to let the print head fully dry. Just run a few deep cleanings to replace the water with ink. Yellow ink does look quite dark in the cart when new. Hopefully there is not any leakage from another cart that might have contaminated the yellow ink. "Pumping" is basically gently pressing the printhead into the windex-saturated pad of paper and then releasing the pressure. You do this repeatedly to move the cleaning fluid through the nozzles and inlet screens. You will see the result of this by the rise and fall of liquid just above the screens.

 

[OM2]

@fotofreek... i'm going to what u say and will install right now!
i was planning to do a 48 hour dry out just to be safe

i'll post back if i have problems
thanks!

 

[OM2]

i've put back print head and no change
see this link: http://ge.tt/8LYjgTN/v/0
i've uploaded a pdf of the nozzle check print outs
altogether, i've now done maybe 15 deep head cleans

i don't think i want to assemble the ingredients to create pharmacists solution - i'd have to spend 20 - 30 (if i can get all of the ingredients that is)

the only option i see is to buy a solution from an ebay seller
there are a few that give 100% guarantee and sell 100ml for about 5 - 6
+ they say that 100ml will last me a loong time
any viewpoints on this before i buy?

thanks

 

[Lezbee]

Please am having problem with my canon ip4940 ink absorber full I try use v2.0 it does not work cany body help me to get v3.4 as it is on website t cofirm it works for the 4940 please i really need help I have 7 of 4940 and all the same erro Canon company refuse to asist me

 

[Lezbee]

I have all the visions exceept v3.4 if you send me an email I will send it to you for free

 

[PeterBJ]

Hi Lezbee

See this thread: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7416&p=1 and note post #7. Your problems might be caused by the printer not entering service mode or the service tool not supporting the printer. The service tool works with Windows XP, Vista and 7, but only with 32 bit versions of the OS's.

If you have further questions, please post them in the thread I linked to.