Pixma MP620 frequent head cleaning cycles

[barfl2]

My printer has been very good until 3 weeks ago. First it was telling me low ink on Magenta pulled cart was still 75% full. Replaced it with another all mine are OEM refilled with Canon compatible ink from Octoink. Then it was Cyan turn again the cart was nearly full. The replacements were followed by long cleaning periods and every time I asked for a print the machine seemed to wanted to do a head clean, which really slows things down. Output was continually losing Magenta and needing a nozzle check and clean.

I decided to pull the print head and using Panos gentle technique shallow tray/paper towel/window/cleaner. The head seemed ok apart from the Magenta pickup, so I took of the rubber seal and found that the scabbard from a needle with the closed end cut off was a perfect fit. So I poured in some cleaner with a syringe and it went down nice and steadily, repeated it again the cleaner went through quickly. So I assumed all was OK. cleaned up and put everything back in the printer.

Today same problem keep losing Magenta. It can be fixed with a nozzle check/clean but lasts no time at all. I am thinking ink feed problem from the cart but I have tried all 3 I have 2 OEM 1 compatible. The cleaning fluid went through quickly so I assume not a blockage?

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[The Hat]

My money would be on the cartridge and not your print head,
yes I know you tried 3 different ones and got the same results.

How do you refill your cartridges, top or Bottom (German) method because that might tell you whats going wrong.

If its the German method then try tapping the cartridge on a hard surface before install it in your printer
and if its the top fill method then try purging the cartridge, dry it and then refill to see if that will cure the problem..

 

[barfl2]

My money would be on the cartridge and not your print head,
yes I know you tried 3 different ones and got the same results.

How do you refill your cartridges, top or Bottom (German) method because that might tell you whats going wrong.

If its the German method then try tapping the cartridge on a hard surface before install it in your printer
and if its the top fill method then try purging the cartridge, dry it and then refill to see if that will cure the problem..

I use both methods but mainly the German. I have tried tapping but probably only the last cart. so will do this to the others. Anyway you have confirmed my thoughts that it is not the print head. I think I will also buy an OEM cart to try as well.

 

[barfl2]

Today after frequent cleaning and limping along my Magenta is not working at all. I have tried all carts 2 OEM 1 Compatible (all topped off first). Now done 5 nozzle cleans and 1 deep clean. After the deep clean I had about 50% printout, tried 1 more nozzle clean and now have nothing.

Because the cleaning fluid ran so quickly through the print head when I tried cleaning it I thought it was cartridge flow problem as did The Hat now I am not so sure. Any further suggestions appreciated

 

[The Hat]

Today after frequent cleaning and limping along my Magenta is not working at all. I have tried all carts 2 OEM 1 Compatible (all topped off first). Now done 5 nozzle cleans and 1 deep clean. After the deep clean I had about 50% printout, tried 1 more nozzle clean and now have nothing.

Because the cleaning fluid ran so quickly through the print head when I tried cleaning it I thought it was cartridge flow problem as did The Hat now I am not so sure. Any further suggestions appreciated

What your describing still sounds like a cartridge problem to me,
can you post that nozzle check please for us to see the problem?

Try squirting a few drops of alcohol and Windex or just one of them into the outlet of your cartridge
and then do a head clean and a nozzle check and maybe post that as well..

 

[barfl2]

Today after frequent cleaning and limping along my Magenta is not working at all. I have tried all carts 2 OEM 1 Compatible (all topped off first). Now done 5 nozzle cleans and 1 deep clean. After the deep clean I had about 50% printout, tried 1 more nozzle clean and now have nothing.

Because the cleaning fluid ran so quickly through the print head when I tried cleaning it I thought it was cartridge flow problem as did The Hat now I am not so sure. Any further suggestions appreciated

What your describing still sounds like a cartridge problem to me,
can you post that nozzle check please for us to see the problem?

Try squirting a few drops of alcohol and Windex or just one of them into the outlet of your cartridge
and then do a head clean and a nozzle check and maybe post that as well..

I tried that but no difference. Have purged my 2 OEM carts and refilled them. Put one in this morning after usual checks output unchanged tried 1 nozzle check got faint magenta did another got full magenta. Thought I was in business did one Form printout black/blue/red colours the blue came out green. checked nozzle again once again NO magenta. Tried uploading nozzle shots but keep getting error message. My internet connection is very flakey at the moment keep losing the connection. I can always blame the weather. I have a NEW compatible cart coming so will be able to try another cart/ink combination.

 

[barfl2]

latest update to the MP620 saga. Martin kindly sent me a fresh batch of Magenta and a used Magenta 521 cart to try out.

I purged the cart blew most of water out and dried it out with the paper towel method. reset/refilled after usual noises did a nozzle check zilch did a second about 50% did another 100% did 1 text/picture printout looked green another nozzle check no magenta. Pulled all carts and Magenta was already down 50% others as well but not as much and there was a lot of foamy air bubbles in the tank.

I pulled the print head out and repeated my cleaning with paper towel/Morrisons Window cleaner but changing the paper more frequently this time. I filled a syringe with the fluid and squirted down my open ended needle scabbard onto the magenta pick-up and there seemed to more magenta ink in the area. cleaned up stodd on a clean paper towel on a warm radiator for a couple of hours.

Topped all carts put everything back first nozzle check 50% second 100% then printed 9 E-bay pages checking each one as they came out all fine. Did a nozzle check still 100%.

So keeping all fingers crossed the problem has been sorted largely to Martin promptly coming to my rescue. If this was OEM inks wasted I reckon 20 worth plus a load of paper and hours and hours of frustration. Still that's why we do it we all love a challenge.