New Print Head : No Cyan

[andy_48]

Help! Canon Pixma ip8750

Last week I had problems with dodgy cyan and PGIBk nozzle checks that lead me to replacing the print head (OEM Canon from CRC Tasktron).

It arrived yesterday and I printed a few photos and docs with the usual excellent results.

Today - disaster! There is no cyan at all.

Zero, zilch, nada.

All my carts and inks are aftermarket from Octoinkjet. I've tried replacing the cyan cart with one that works fine in my MG6650. Still nothing.

What can I do?

 

[PeterBJ]

A stamp test can determine if the problem is caused by an electronic defect in the printhead and/or logic board or caused by a blockage in the printhead and/or cartridge. Here is a post with an instruction and a stamp test showing blockage in pigment black.

 

[andy_48]

A stamp test can determine if the problem is caused by an electronic defect in the printhead and/or logic board or caused by a blockage in the printhead and/or cartridge. Here is a post with an instruction and a stamp test showing blockage in pigment black.

Thanks, that is very helpful. So, I:

1. Took out the Cyan cart and blew out some ink (more than I expected!) and replaced it
2. Ran Nozzle Clean
3. Took the print head out for a "stamp" test - looks successful - and replaced it and all the carts
4. Ran Nozzle Clean and Nozzle Check - I got Cyan back but partially lost yellow! So, I:
5. Ran Nozzle Clean and Nozzle Check - slight improvement
6. Swapped the Yellow cart from my other printer
7. Ran Nozzle Clean and Nozzle check - and all now looks fine on both printers

Is this pointing towards cart problems or something else?

 

[PeterBJ]

I think your tests point towards a problem with unreliable ink feed from the cartridges to the print head.

I have tested a set of refillable compatible PGI-550//CLI-551 cartridges I got from @The Hat . I don't know the source of these cartridges, I experienced both ink starvation and and ink leakage with the same set of cartridges. The cause of these problems were the sponges at the ink outlet not making good contact with the ink inlet at the printhead. IIRC @mikling wrote about correcting the problem by getting the sponge back in place to restore contact with the ink inlet.

There is only one sponge in the sponge chamber, Canon OEM use a three sponge design for this cartridge family. See this or a translation here. Only the XL cartridges are worth refilling IMO, the setup/standard cartridges are too small, but I think this is the best solution as resetters for these cartridges are now available, IIRC @websnail changed supplier of refilllable PGI-550/CLI-551 cartridges and now recommends refilling of OEM cartridges.

 

[andy_48]

Ah, thanks for that. As it happens I have 2 full sets of OEM XL carts but gave up with them sometime ago as there was no ink window and no resetter. I hadn't realised they were now available so I'll track one down.

Will I have to clean/prepare the carts in some special way to make them usable again?

 

[PeterBJ]

If you have made no changes to the cartridges, only used the ink, then there should be made no other changes to the cartridges than needed for either a German refill, topfill or Freedom Refill.

For topfill you remove the sealing ball and replace it with one of Octoinkjet's low profile plugs kept securely in place with a piece of alumin(i)um tape. There are threads about topfilling these cartridges on the forum,

For German refill you only need to punch a hole in the proper place. See this or a translation here.

For Freedom Refill you should make no changes to the cartridge but seal the vent before refilling. Octoinkjet sells a special "ClipClamp" for freedom refilling.

I think topfilling is the easiest method for these cartridges, but others might think otherwise.

 

[andy_48]

Thanks again! I had previously removed all the sealing balls and have a supply of plugs so I'm happy with top-filling.

These carts have been sitting in my garage for many months, some without caps or plugs, so they'll be as dry as a witch's .....well, you get the picture. Can I just fill 'em up again?

 

[stratman]

These carts have been sitting in my garage for many months, some without caps or plugs, so they'll be as dry as

I would flush the cartridges till clean (or clear water exiting if the cartridges are all opaque), then run isopropyl alcohol or Windex through the cartridge to disinfect as if there is a biologic contamination, then flush fully with water.

At this point you can blow into the refill hole (barring you are not sick and transferring a new biologic contaminant) and then promote water extraction using the ghwells paper towel osmosis trick:

https://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/draining-a-canon-cartridge.4760/

You can then refill even with the sponge being damp, which may also help the sponge take up ink faster than a bone dry sponge. Just know that your ink will be slightly diluted and will take another refill or two more for you to be using undiluted ink. However, if the sponge is just damp then you might notice little effect with your prints.

You can let the cartridge dry if you want, though some have found this has led to slow uptake of ink in the sponge. I have done both ways and been pleased with either result. YMMV

 

[andy_48]

I would flush the cartridges till clean (or clear water exiting if the cartridges are all opaque), then run isopropyl alcohol or Windex through the cartridge to disinfect as if there is a biologic contamination, then flush fully with water.

Thanks. That is very comprehensive.

Is tap water OK (I can't get distilled at the mo) and should I use neat Windex (I have the Original with Ammonia)?

 

[PeterBJ]

If the cartridges have been stored without the output clip and refill hole plug/ball they should be flushed and dried before refill.

There is one more problem I forgot to mention. Remnants of yellow OEM ink in the CLI-551 Y cartridge can react with refill ink or even water used in flushing and form a gel that can block the printhead. See this.

The Windex or other window cleaner with ammonia should be used "as is" meaning neat. After flushing the cartridge with a window cleaner with ammonia or pharmacist's cleaning solution the cartridge should be flushed with distilled or demineralized water. But if you cannot obtain distilled or demineralized water I suggest to dry the cartridge after the flushing using ghwellsjr's wicking method. After drying you can flush the cartridge with tap water without ill effects, I think.

To avoid the problem with the gelling in the OEM yellow cartridge a flushed cartridge of another colour could be used instead of the yellow one. You should then transfer the chip from the yellow cartridge to the other cartridge. See this.

To avoid drying empty cartridges should be sealed with the clip and a plug until refilled and used. I think Octoinkjet sells replacement clips. else you can make your own from an old bicycle inner tube. See this and this.