Printing Problems After Refill

[RMM]

Good description! When doing a quick purge to prevent clogging and ink flow problems I usually just clean until I can see that the fluid coming out of the sponge is clean, then dry the cartridge.

 

[ehuesman]

Thanks ghwellsjr, I'm still not sure what the problem was (is?) with the cartridge. As I noted earlier, it didn't take much pressure at all when I was blowing through the vent hole to force ink out of the outlet, so I took that as a sign that there was no clog. I know you posted an idea that the problem could've been air getting in the refill hole but I taped that up and it didn't make a difference so I'm not sure that was the problem either.

Here's another question about the purge. After I finish the process and have dried it, is the best practice to just store it completely dry until I'm ready to refill it and try it again (after the new OEM cartridge I just bought is empty)? If the cartridge is stored for a while, do I need to repeat the process of filling it with water and draining or just add ink and go? I know that kind of sounds like a dumb question but I was just thinking about how I've seen water roll off of bone dry sponges before and how some substances seem to absorb liquids better when they are already slightly damp.

 

[RMM]

ehuesman, it seems to be the general consensus that it is best to have the sponge be slightly damp or else it may not absorb as readily as a slightly humid one will. Your observation is correct. It is for this reason that many add ~2% propylene glycol or similar into their flushing solutions as an agent to keep the sponge from drying out too much.

 

[ehuesman]

Thanks RMM, you have all been very helpful.

 

[ehuesman]

Argh!

I thought the printer worked fine until I went to print confirmation numbers, etc., for my vacation. I wasn't paying attention the other day after I bought the new Canon cartridge and tried it out, I think I might have tried it out on dark gray text, not black. Black won't print at all now, not even streaked!

I did a few more quick searches, right now I am soaking the print head in Windex. My purge pad for the pigment black looks pretty soaked but I can't figure out how to remove it to clean it. I saw the tips about continuing to spray it with Windex until it drains, but where does all that liquid go?

 

[ehuesman]

Unfortunately I don't have the time to do this correctly right now. I have taken the cartridges out and sealed them the best I can with tape and then stored them in a plastic zip lock bag. I'm assuming I need to do this to prevent them drying out while I am gone (about two weeks before I get back to this problem).

I removed the print head and sprayed it with Windex. It is sitting in a bowl on top of a piece of sponge. I plan to spray it with the Windex and leave it. As I type this, I'm thinking I may want to just rinse it with water before I leave instead of leaving it in the Windex?

When I return, I will try the method of attaching the small hose to the inlets on the print head, attach a syringe to the hose and then cycle forcing water/Windex through the head. Sound good?

I am still not sure about the purging system. I sprayed the Windex on the purge pads. It makes a mess in there from the Windex splattering the ink, is this all right? Do I need to dismantle and clean? The square pad (for colors?) drained the Windex quickly, but the rectangular pad (pigment black?) still has Windex sitting on it. I intend to leave on vacation with the Windex sitting there, is this all right?

Thanks in advance, yet again.

 

[ghwellsjr]

The best place for your print head is in your printer and the best place for your cartridges is on the print head (in the printer). But I'm not sure what you have done with your print head out of the printer when you say you sprayed it with Windex or you might rinse it with water instead of leaving it in the Windex. You don't want to allow liquid inside the guts of the print head where it can contact the electronics. If you know this hasn't happened then I would recommend puttting everything back in the printer and deal with it when you get back. Otherwise, just leave it as is until you get back.

It sounds like you have a clogged pigment ink purge system, whether this is just in the purge pad or in the purge pump or below the purge pump, will have to be determined later. All that ink is deposited on some absorbent pads that line the bottom of your printer.

I hope this hasn't messed up your vacation.

 

[ehuesman]

Alright, I've been back from vacation and have tried a few things. First, let me state that the problem definitely was not the cartridge. When I did a nozzle check after installing it, I looked at the nozzle check print and everything looked great - until I looked at it later and discovered that absolutely nothing was printing for pigment black. I don't know how I missed that the first time!

Anyways, I had tried soaking the print head and then bought the hoses to try and flush them. The problem was that I didn't have a large enough syringe to fit snugly over the larger hose that was attached to the pigment black inlet. I tried a turkey baster but that doesn't work too well. Either way, I reinserted the print head and the problem still existed, no improvement at all. At that point, I remembered that I had bought the extended warranty for the printer and called up Staples. They were useless and told me the problem was either the cartridge or the print head and those items are not covered since they are consumables. Staples will replace the printer, but the replacement would come without a print head or ink so I didn't think that would make any sense.

So I went ahead and ordered a new print head, which arrived today. I installed it thinking my troubles were over and I would just have an extra print head (the old one) to tinker with. Well I was wrong, it still will not print a speck of ink for the pigment black when doing the nozzle check! So the problem is something other than the print head or the cartridge. Any ideas what else would prevent any ink at all from printing?

Obviously, I will try to get a new printer from Staples, but now I'll have two print heads. If my old one works fine when the printer arrives, what is the best way to store the newer one? I'm assuming they are packaged in foil packets for a reason.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ghwellsjr]

As I said in post #27, it looks like you are having a problem with your purge system. Put some Windex on the two pads where the print head parks and notice how the Windex pools there. Next do a cleaning cycle and then look to see if the Windex is still pooled on top of the pads. Let us know what you find.

 

[martin0reg]

The missing pigment black can result from bad ink flow (cartridge) or clogged pigment nozzles.
Canon printheads are not like epsons (thermic vs. piezo) and the nozzles can be damaged/burned when printing without ink.
To protect the printhead I would avoid printing any purging patterns or full colored testfiles until the nozzle check comes out flawless. If the nozzle check is flawless but the prints remain (or become again) streaky then it is probably the ink flow.

If a printhead is damaged normally the printer is sending error messages to replace the print head.
Sometimes a defective printhead can also affect the printheads mainbord.
Hoping this is not the case with yours as this often results in a weird looking nozzle check with square and regular stripes and gaps.
..a defective printer can damage a printhead too..