The missing color after cleaning mystery

[DBDigital]

Well if that were the case, it wouldn't print the colors at all, instead of working almost perfect when I first start it after being off for about 24 hours (although I haven't tried it after a few hours). But once I run a cleaning/maintenance cycle most of the colors disappear in the nozzle check.

It is strange for certain. The wiper looks ok and there doesn't appear to be caked with ink or anything, but I am going to try (CAREFULLY) cleaning it with a q-tip and head cleaner. Perhaps that will help.

 

[The Hat]

once I run a cleaning/maintenance cycle most of the colors disappear in the nozzle check.

Instead of just running cleaning cycles continues, try printing a couple of dozen test sheets, it will use far less ink that way and may even print properly thereafter.

click to enlarge...

 

[DBDigital]

Well the thing is it DOES print properly (almost perfect) until I do a cleaning cycle or IT does one as they will at certain points no matter what you do (power on after a certain period of time off for example). That is the odd part I am trying to figure out.

Why it is good (almost perfect nozzle check and everything I print looks ok, test charts, or anything else) until a cleaning cycle is run? That is the mystery.

 

[The Hat]

until a cleaning cycle is run? That is the mystery.

It sounds like your purge unit is playing up, it may not be pulling enough vacuum on certain colours properly, there maybe a leakage from one side or the other, that’s the only possible answer.. check that it's sealing properly...

 

[DBDigital]

It sounds like your purge unit is playing up, it may not be pulling enough vacuum on certain colours properly, there maybe a leakage from one side or the other, that’s the only possible answer.. check that it's sealing properly...

I thought about that as well and I have checked the maitaince station/pad on the far right. It looks ok lacking any dried ink around the edge that would prevent a good seal. I cleaned around the edges anyway, but it hasn't solved the problem. The pad looks good as well and I cleaned it (also very carefully) to be safe. With this particular model, as the head slides over it pushes against a plastic stop that is part of the pads and that motion pulls it up to seal against the heads. It is very simple and seems to be doing that just fine from what I see. But obviously something is amiss lol. I will try cleaning the edges again. Also the wiper as perhaps it is not cleaning the bottom of the heads well enough during a cleaning cycle.

 

[The Hat]

I have checked the maitaince station/pad on the far right. It looks ok lacking any dried ink around the edge

Try flooding the purge pads with Windex and see if they drain into the waste pads by themselves or need assistance from a cleaning cycle…one of the tubes maybe be blocked..

 

[DBDigital]

Try flooding the purge pads with Windex and see if they drain into the waste pads by themselves or need assistance from a cleaning cycle…one of the tubes maybe be blocked..

Yes I have done that as well, although not Windex but printer head cleaner. It disappears/drains out in a second or two.

 

[The Hat]

It disappears/drains out in a second or two.

That might be a problem also, if the flood drains away to quickly then that might suggest one of your tubing on the underside of the purge unit has been pushed off, and that will also stop you getting a good vacuum…

 

[palombian]

That might be a problem also, if the flood drains away to quickly then that might suggest one of your tubing on the underside of the purge unit has been pushed off, and that will also stop you getting a good vacuum…

Indeed, it should stay flooded and only be drained after you have closed the cover, the printhead relocates and you hear the purge pump running.