Problems after refill Workforce 845 with RATF damper cartridge system

[Wazzu]

Hi!

You've all helped me so much with problems I've had before with my Canon photo printer. Now I'm asking for help with my every day printer, the Epson Workforce 845.

I have the refilling damper cartridge system from Inkjetcarts.us. It came with its own cartridges and a "Return All To Full" system. It had been working o.k., but it always took awhile to get a refilled cartridge to start printing again. For example, just filling the black cartridge, I'd have to do a several head cleanings and nozzle checks to get it up and running. It's gotten worse, so that a color that wasn't even refilled--and had been working just fine--suddenly would no longer print when a different cartridge was filled. This last time, all the cartridges were working except magenta. So I did head cleanings and nozzle checks, and now only the cyan works.

This is how I am refilling: when I get low on an ink (usually black), I push the printer's button for cartridge replacement. Then I usually top off all of the cartridges at the same time. Then I push the RATF button, close the lid and let the printer charge the ink. Then I do a nozzle check, which ALWAYS shows I am missing ink. Then numerous head cleanings and more nozzle checks. Eventually it works. Now it won't work anymore (except currently the cyan).

I don't know what to try. Am I doing something wrong or would a different ink system be better for this printer?

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

At least yours worked for awhile. Mine leaked out the edges of the dampers and the ones that didn't, I'd come back to work in the morning and find the carts drained into the waste tank. Since they wouldn't admit to any fault, I had to throw it all away.

I bought new inks and carts from Precision Colors and they're working fine so far. The dye 1400 I bought individual resettable tanks. The pigment 1400 I bought an set that's attached together with a reset button but I actually haven't had a chance to use it enough to get it to the reset. They worked right out of the box, so far I have had no issues with ink flow or ink draining. The pigment inks are color matched better, too.

 

[Wazzu]

At least yours worked for awhile. Mine leaked out the edges of the dampers and the ones that didn't, I'd come back to work in the morning and find the carts drained into the waste tank. Since they wouldn't admit to any fault, I had to throw it all away.

I bought new inks and carts from Precision Colors and they're working fine so far. The dye 1400 I bought individual resettable tanks. The pigment 1400 I bought an set that's attached together with a reset button but I actually haven't had a chance to use it enough to get it to the reset. They worked right out of the box, so far I have had no issues with ink flow or ink draining. The pigment inks are color matched better, too.

I was just on the Precision Colors site looking around, as a matter of fact. That is where I got my system for the Canon (actually off of eBay, but from Precision Colors). I saw they have cartridges with resettable chips. I don't mind taking cartridges out and refilling. I just want something that works!

It could very well be that I'm doing something wrong with the RATF system I'm currently using (or attempting to use).

I should add that occasionally I'll get a random "cartridge not recognized" error.

I also have tried turning the printer off and on trying to fix my issue, but it doesn't seem to help.

ETA: I'm going to send an email to Inkjetcarts. Does he have a presence here on the forum?

ETA: I bought this system at the end of May of 2012

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

I spent a long time fighting with it and they even had me buy new parts since they kept blaming me. Nothing ever worked. I wasted a lot of money on junk. I'd been buying from them for over six years and this was the first problem like this I ever had but they just kept telling me it was entirely my fault. I think they either changed suppliers or their supplier had a bad batch of tanks. I wouldn't ever buy from them again.

One of my RATF sets didn't work because the bars that press the chip against the pins weren't long enough. I had to put some masking tape over the ends to make it thick enough to detect it. It actually seems to take a high amount of pressure for the chips to register.

 

[jtoolman]

I have these types of carts and chip bars on my Artisan 720 and on two Epson 1400s with zero problems. Where I had problems was with their RTAF system for the R1900.
Kept getting errors galore. It seems that even on their own video they had to go through several reset attempts before it would finally work.
I though I had crapped out on of my R1900s as even using OEM carts would not bring it back to life. Then it suddenly accepted the OEM carts and I through out the system. Ross also denied that anything was wrong and that I was doing something wrong.

My opinion is that is the end user has to adjust and readjust a system ( Your Masking tape fix ) in order to sort of make it work, it is worthless and should not ever be offered for sale. But alas, a lot of these 3rd party systems do require that the alignment of the stars and planets be JUST right for then to work as advertised.

Joe

 

[Wazzu]

Thank you so much for the replies. I did send an email off to inkjetcarts, but I think I'm going to go ahead and buy new refillable cartridges from Precision Colors. I'm already buying from them for the Canon, plus I like that they offer the larger black ink cartridge in its set for the Workforce.

I may have to buy a set of OEM cartridges first because I really need to use the printer now.

 

[bobjoek]

Thank you so much for the replies. I did send an email off to inkjetcarts, but I think I'm going to go ahead and buy new refillable cartridges from Precision Colors. I'm already buying from them for the Canon, plus I like that they offer the larger black ink cartridge in its set for the Workforce.

I may have to buy a set of OEM cartridges first because I really need to use the printer now.

I have a Workforce 840 and are using Image Specialist inks and refillable cartridges from Precision Colors. This combination has been working for me without any problems for over a year now. My Workforce 840 is heavily used. Also I have installed on other printers, cartridges from InkJetCarts that are functioning properly. With the Workforce 840, I went with Precision Colors because they offer the larger black cartridge. In my opinion you cannot go wrong with either supplier.

Bob

 

[Wazzu]

I got it to work...somehow! I topped off the tanks again and went through more head cleanings and nozzle checks and it is finally printing. I had already placed an order at Precision Colors for resettable cartridges. :/ At least I won't have to buy any OEM inks in the meantime.

Question: Are all of these head cleanings bad for the printer? And do others have to do numerous head cleanings when cartridges are refilled or topped off? Do you think I'll have to do as many cleanings with the resettable cartridges from Precision, or is this pretty much the SOP with this printer regardless of the method used to refill?

 

[bobjoek]

With all of the trouble that you have been experiencing, it sounds like the cartridges were not originally primed, or air is getting into the system. If you did prime the cartridges, then perhaps they have defective seals. Also it is a good idea to refill the cartridges before they are empty to avoid having to reprime them. Another thought: Have you removed the air vent plugs on your cartridges? If the air vent plugs are not removed, you will not have proper ink flow from your cartridges.

Bob

 

[turbguy]

Question: Are all of these head cleanings bad for the printer?

Of course, yes. Every "cycle" imposed on a printhead (thermal or piezo) removes life from the head, plus life from other mechanisms that purge/charge the ink), and may fill the waste ink system unnecessarily.

Wayne