TS9020 partial loss of cyan color

[nickb]

The nozzle check did not improve after doing a few cleanings/test prints over the last couple of days. I have the printhead out and soaking in some Windex for the next 24 hours and will try to see if this improves things. After removing the carts I did see some blue ink pooling in the printhead cyan slot (as shown in the pic), but not for the other colors. Wondering if that means anything.

Note, I picked up the refillable carts as the Canon ones are all opaque and hard to refill from what I've read.

 

[stratman]

I did see some blue ink pooling in the printhead cyan slot (as shown in the pic), but not for the other colors. Wondering if that means anything.

This could mean you have a clog and it is slowly dissolving.

Soaking is good. Remember to use warm water flushes at the sink to help move the process along in combination with the soaking.

As far as soaking composition, it can be original formula Windex or similar in water, liquid dish washing soap like Dawn or Fairy in water or Pharmacist's Solution if you like.

 

[nickb]

Update: I used a combination of extended soak in Windex (2 days), warm water flush from the tap, and a short 2 hour soak in warm water + a few drops of dish soap. I may have a slight alignment issue that I'll have to address, but it looks like things are mostly back to normal.

Thanks for all of the advice.

 

[The Hat]

but it looks like things are mostly back to normal.

Congratulations, and very well done..

 

[stratman]

Patience has paid off! Nicely done.

Try an automatic alignment and let us know.

 

[The Hat]

Try an automatic alignment

Manual is better, I reckon..

 

[stratman]

Manual is better, I reckon..

It may be, and that would be the next thing I would recommend to try. Start with automatic then try manual if not resolved.

 

[nickb]

So now after printing about 30 pages the cyan is exhibiting the same issue. Maybe this needs a longer soak?

 

[The Hat]

Maybe this needs a longer soak?

No don’t touch the print head, instead concentrate on your ink and cartridges, that’s where your problems are originating from, poor ink flow will show up just as you have explained..

 

[PeterBJ]

Dare I say it? The quality of refillable and single use 3rd party cartridges for Canon varies a lot. Some are acceptable some are junk. I have experienced both leakage and ink starvation with the same one set of PGI-550/CLI-551 refillable cartridges.

It is a bit expensive, but the only reliable test I can think of now is to try a new Canon OEM cyan cartridge to determine if the ink flow problem is caused by the cartridge or the print head.