Pro -1 nozzle check problems

[anthonygh]

This is my first post...and I know it is a subject that has been discussed before...but can't find a satisfactory answer.

Basically...I have been given two pro - 1 printers...both in very good condition.

One works perfectly; the other has two missing colours. These are GY and LGY.
I have followed the Canon instructions ref cleaning cycles etc and all other colours are perfect.....but no change to these two...they are blank other than a very slight hint of LGY (two very feint lines near the bottom of the block).

I don't want to dump this printer as it is a nice looking machine and barely used by the previous owner. But at the same time I don't want to waste a fortune in ink trying to clear it via cleaning cycles that don't seem to have any effect on these two greys.

My previous Canon was a Pro 9000 mk 2 and I had a similar problem but was able to remove the head quite easily and clean it. I can't find any specific instructions on how to do this with the Pro-1. Or even if it is worth doing anyway.

So...any advice welcomed !!

PS: I have approached Canon UK and their response was buy a new machine...and offered 20% discount. Not very helpful!!

 

[swisscow]

Hi @anthonygh!

Yes, it looks like these Pro-1 printers are becoming cheap goods -- exactly like you are saying, I also just recently bought 1 barely used Pro-1 almost for free and then shortly after that even received two Pro-1 for free (none of them was working out of the box, though, but finally I managed to have one working again flawlessly).

I think I had pretty much the same issue like you had, the nozzle check didn't want to become nice and clean. What I found is that in most cases it just needs some time; and in some cases it needs some additional effort. I was doing a one or two nozzle checks every day and also every day or so a printhead cleaning. After some days I had all colors nice and clean again -- except for yellow. I continued for another week or so but the yellow didn't want to come back. I then decided to take out the printhead and do a manual cleaning. Yes, opening the printer to get to the printhead is a bit of a pain, but at least there's no screws involved. I then placed the printhead (with the printing side at the bottom) into a box with 1cm or so hot deionized water and a paper towel at the bottom. I let it soak for 10min or so and then placed it onto a dry paper towel so that the towel can suck out the ink maybe for a minute or two. After inserting the printhead again into the printer and after two following nozzle checks the yellow also came fully back to life again and my Pro-1 is printing lovely images again since then

I'll add some of my fotos from the cleaning process below. Hope this helps!

PS: I'm planning on writing all my findings I had with my 3 broken Pro-1 down in a small report here in this forum soon.

 

[anthonygh]

Thanks..sounds a bit encouraging. Can you describe...step by step....how you got the print head out? I have not found any info on doing this; and also, have read a few scare stories about the inks being pressurised and squirting out. As mentioned, I have one that works perfectly...but think it is a real shame to dump one if it can be fixed 'relatively' cheaply. Even if I don't actually need it (I also run two Epson R3000s which are arguably better printers!).

 

[anthonygh]

Just an update on this. Somewhere I read that an owner solved an identical problem to mine by doing little more than running a nozzle check each day, and eventually (after about three weeks as I recall) the nozzle check was perfect.

I decided to give it a go, and after a few days I can see one of the missing greys returning...the other is still blank. This suggests to me I should persevere with this process; it doesn't look like the print head is actually damaged.

Does anyone here have any thought on this....or am I clutching at straws?

 

[swisscow]

Can you describe...step by step....how you got the print head out?

@anthonygh, please find the complete description that I've just posted: here.

 

[anthonygh]

Update on above......I've been running a daily nozzle check for several days and one of the missing greys has fully returned...but the other is still totally blank. I'm going to continue with the daily nozzle check process for now.....but is there any reason one channel would be completely blocked and all others perfect?

Not sure if this is a clue...but the blocked channel cart is flashing to show it is low on ink....but must be some ink in it as the printer hasn't demanded a replacement!!