PC CLI42 PM showing banding/clogging again, what am I doing wrong?

[timdafweak]

I am a bit lost here. I was affected by the Image Specialists PM/M issue with Pro100 inks. I recently got a replacement set from Precision Color, ones where the issue has been fixed (PM2, M2, BK2), and installed a new Print head when the old one refused to get unclogged.

To be on the safe side, I replaced all the cartridges with a set of flushed and cleaned PCI8 cartridges and all seemed dandy, and the great prints were back.

And now four days later, and the PM shows banding again. Is it the way I am refilling? I am really not sure what I am doing wrong. I use the top fill method and have attached an photo of the refilled cartridge.
I know it is the cartridge because I replaced it with an OEM and after a cleaning, the plug is gone, prints are perfect again. What is going on? Can anyone shed a light?

 

[turbguy]

I would say you could be overfilling the carts. There's almost no air space above the ink on the reservoir side. If ink can't get out of the reservoir (because air can't get in), the flow from the reservoir becomes "vacuum locked" and the cart will not deliver ink properly. Try filling only 3/4 of the way full.

If ink isn't delivered to the nozzles "fast" enough, then air will be drawn into some nozzles to let whatever ink that IS in the print head flow out, causing missing nozzles/banding.

Just my 2 cents.....

 

[The Hat]

Well when I viewed your two Pics I noticed straight away that the magenta cart looked to me to be a bit too full, then moments later I noticed that @turbguy suggested much the same thing. !

Your problems only began to start after you had used the printer for 4 days and that would suggest you’re having issues with ink starvation, why ?

The pressure and ink inside your cartridge started to build up as the print head tried to use the ink inside but that became more difficult to the point where the cartridge was unable to supply sufficient ink due to lack of air, the balance was lost.

The magenta cart shown is so full that when you removed the orange clip it should have leaked ink considerably till the balance was restored and that is usually a good indicator that the cartridge is refilled correctly and will work properly when inserted into the print head.

98% of all print related problems are usually caused by an incorrectly filled or cartridge problems and only 2% are from an issue with a clog, so maybe it’s time to do a reappraisal of your refilling procedure before you lose another print head..

 

[timdafweak]

My extreme apologies to everyone. My horrible photo skills on display here. I understand ink starvation having read through the forum and searched a bit.

At fault here is my photography,having taken a picture of the cartridge on the side. The ink traveled to the top. Eek. Sorry.

The ink level is actually an inch from the top of the cartridge - a little less than half full. I will try to update with a better picture when I am back from work.

 

[turbguy]

I suggest you switch the refilled PM cart to another, or purge the refilled PM cart and try again. It appears to me that there is a flow issue with that cart. Perhaps the air vent serpentine passage (above the sponge compartment) is clogged with dried ink??

 

[timdafweak]

Thanks Turbguy, it does seem to be the case to me as well. I just got this cartridge all purged and cleaned from Precision Color, and refilled it last weekend, so it shouldn't be dried ink already.. but maybe the cartridge was over-dry or something.

In any case, here's a pic of the cartridge standing up.

 

[turbguy]

If you surround the air vent with your lips and lightly pressurize the sponge side, does ink drip freely from the outlet? Be careful, this could make a mess (and magenta lips)!

 

[timdafweak]

Ah ha a mouth-to-cartridge resuscitation... I will try that. with my luck I'll have the magenta lips. Right before an interview too. But color me obsessed. Thank you, will report back!

 

[Grazer5]

An easier way is to get a piece of tissue paper or paper towel under the port and pull out the fill plug. If you don't get a good flow out to the paper, it's time to flush. Probably foamed up.

 

[pharmacist]

Aha, use my "famous" conditioning solution to make the sponge more hydrophilic so it can absorb the ink better . The above sponge area is over saturated. Using the german Durchstich refill method prevents over saturation is very rare and will distribute the ink evenly without over saturating the upper sponge area.