Pixma iX6850... Yellow is completely Missing ?

[floK]

Am I right in thinking that you said that when under normal printing, the colors (including yellow) are all produced?

No, the yellow is missing in all the prints.
What I said (and probably confused you) is that the banding (the white strips visible in the nozzle check pattern) doesn't appear in the normal printing.

 

[arw4]

Ah, that makes more sense. Sorry - I misunderstood. That "missing yellow" must be producing a pretty strong colour cast in your printing!

Well, I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavours, FloK. Let us know how you get on with Mikling's suggestion. Certainly worth a go, but since it's been a fairly long-term problem, it may now be there to stay unfortunately. Good luck anyway. If it comes to it, I think you're right in your thoughts about sticking with Canon. I don't believe Canon printers fair any worse than the other printer manufacturers for clogging. With mine, I tend to print something out every few days, even if I don't actually need print. This at least helps keep ink/print-head problems at bay.

 

[stratman]

I tend to print something out every few days, even if I don't actually need print. This at least helps keep ink/print-head problems at bay.

Forum consensus is a nozzle check is all you need for maintenance once a week or so.

 

[floK]

Epilogue (or from Funeral March to Ode to Joy)

Well, yesterday I tried all day to fix the problem with the yellow ink flow.
I started with @mikling's recommended method and, for the beginning, the result seemed to be encouraging, as after only a few drops of solution on the intake mesh I was able to see a trace of yellow - about a third of the length of nozzles line - on the paper towel below.
But then, with all the attempts, I couldn't manage to lengthen that trace even one millimeter...
So I went to the "classical" unclogging procedure of the printhead, by soaking the nozzles in a solution of ammonia detergent and with a piece of hose filled with the same solution vertically mounted on the yellow ink inlet port.
I left it to soak about six hours, then I let it to dry about two hours and finally, I put it back in the printer for a test.
At the first nozzle check, some irregular traces of yellow appeared in the corresponding space. Promising.
But at the second attempt - again, nothing there!

So... I poured myself a double scotch and, while crooning the Chopin's Funeral March for my defunct IX6850 I started to look for a store that still had an IP7250 in its stock.

Let me explain a bit my decision: maybe I could have tried harder to fix the missing yellow problem and, eventually, probably I would have succeeded. Or not.
But this printer is already compromised - the dysfunction of the pigment black subassembly is a pretty annoying issue - and I feel no more motivation for spending so much time to fix the other problems that
continue to occur.
On the other hand, the models that use 550/551 cartridges were discontinued for some time and are getting harder to find, so I can't wait until this printer will completely fail in order to replace it (as I mentioned, I still have enough inks and refilling tools for this type of cartridges, so I don't want to change the system).

Well, I finally managed to find an IP7250 in a supermarket not too far from my house and, this morning, I went there and bought it with $90 (a bit less than the cost of a replacement printhead for the IX6850 ).
Firstly, when I unpacked it, I was a bit disappointed by the design, that is much less attractive than that of the IX6850.
But the installation and connection to wifi network were simple and fast, so I started to test it and... the Ode to Joy started to sound! The nozzle check print was flawless and the penguins have now beautiful colors
I also printed some photos for comparing them with those that were printed by the IX6850 when it was new (I keep them in an album) and, as I expected, the quality is the same - very good!

So, I'm very satisfied with my new Canon and I hope that, with the experience that I have now, I'll be able to maintain it in good functioning for longer.

Many thanks to all of you that helped me with good advice, I hope we'll keep in touch!

 

[stratman]

Feels good to stop hammering a square peg in a round hole.

Congrats on your new printer. Print something that uses ALL cartridges every week or so to help prevent clogs. A nozzle check will do.

 

[floK]

Thanks, indeed

I think it would be great if we had a device that automatically does this job, either when we are on vacation or when we just forget (among the many other tasks we have to do daily)

 

[arw4]

Thanks, indeed

I think it would be great if we had a device that automatically does this job, either when we are on vacation or when we just forget (among the many other tasks we have to do daily)

Best not to give the printer manufacturers ideas like that!

I like to do a nozzle check print at least once a week. It doesn't take more than a few seconds. Inspecting the print allows you to identify and swiftly address any issues that may arise before they become bigger problems if left unattended.

Glad you're all sorted now.