Canon Pro 100 Difficulties

Here is yet another Magenta clog problem on a CANON print head
http://www.printerknowledge.com/thr...-not-clearly-showing-electronic-failure.8147/

Joe

Yes, that was a story without a happy ending. The print head was from an iP3600. I was not able to remove the clog using the normal and recommended methods, but instead I ruined both the print head and the logic board.

I had refilled the cartridges using Image Specialists refill ink WJ6121 from Octoinkjet UK. I think nothing was wrong with the ink, as I also used it without problems to refill magenta cartridges for a Canon mp540 that uses the same cartridges and print head type.

I don't know if this clog was special, possibly caused by a faulty print head or logic board? Maybe it was just bad luck. Not all clogs can be removed.

I was just pointing out that yet again, it was related to magenta.

I wonder if anybody has made any statistics about what inks, both colour and brand cause the most clogging problems with Canon printers? But refill technique might also play a role.

A such statistic would be interesting, and my guess is that pigment black will also get a high score.

Yes it would be great if we could keep track of just how many head that go belly up, on which colour and from which refilling method but I don’t think the ink brand really matters, does it ?

The real problem is to find out what caused the head failure in the first place and when the first signs were actually noticed, I reckon it usually starts with ink starvation and not a clog but most guys don’t realise that until much further down the road when it’s too late..

The Magenta saga continues...

Got my replacement print head from Canon Friday morning so decided to see exactly what was going on with the clogged head.

Made up a rig similar to the Power Flush product. A piece of tubing which fits tightly over the ink feed tubes in the print head attached to a hand valve from a garden sprayer which has a hose with a faucet connector.

Hook up to the laundry tub sink, turn on the hot water (quite hot) and place the tubing over the ink inlet and open the valve. A fine spray exits the nozzles for that color.

Placed tubing on magenta, a not so fine spray exits the nozzles, shows some voids in the spray (clogged nozzles) pattern. Same for the photo magenta.

Disassembled the print head. Took the bottom ceramic plate off and removed the gasket from the plastic ink channels. Hooked up the tubing to the ink inlets and opened the valve. Good steady stream of water coming out of all the ink channels.

Put the gasket back on and the ceramic plate. Hooked up the tubing to the ink inlet and opened the valve. Same as before - a fine spray from cyan, black, yellow, the greys but magenta still clogged. Nozzles are definitely clogged.

Don't have the tools or knowledge to take this any farther.

The printer is off most of the time, I usually print on the weekends and if I don't print anything I at least print a nozzle check. This problem occurred within a week's time - a good nozzle check and the next week the magenta clog in both magenta channels.

I know this is a bit long winded but I felt that the details are worth publishing.

The Hat said:

Yes it would be great if we could keep track of just how many head that go belly up, on which colour and from which refilling method but I don’t think the ink brand really matters, does it ?

The real problem is to find out what caused the head failure in the first place and when the first signs were actually noticed, I reckon it usually starts with ink starvation and not a clog but most guys don’t realise that until much further down the road when it’s too late..

Click to expand...

I had ZERO warning every time the head failed. I would print on my 9000MKII one day without a single problem.
One or two days passes, go to print and I get green prints. Why Green? Because all of a sudden the Magentas ( either M or LM or both ) were clogged to hell.
I immediately proceed to perform all the accepted procedures and after several days the nozzle check pattern would remain identical from the first one I would do immediate upon discovering the problem.
Load the Next NEW head!!!
After head #3 died I no only threw out the head but also the printer.

Joe

After a day of heavy printing, I am now experiencing problems with the Magenta channel again on my Pro 100. When I had the problem in August, the printer was still under warranty. Canon sent me a replacement print head and all was well. The printer is now out of warranty, but a customer service supervisor was nice enough to send yet another print head my way. In addition to counting my blessings, what precautions should I take to ensure this print head lasts? I print in batches and always turn the printer off when not in use. It does sit unused for a few weeks at a time... should I be powering it on and running a few prints through it every few days? Thanks again for any help.

Yes!

Our resident Epson man of few words jtoolman is correct. However, I will expand on his answer.

Historically, the forum has recommended printing something that uses all the cartridges at least once a week. Typically, the recommendation is a nozzle check as this uses all the cartridges and can alert you to problems early on without worry of burning out some nozzles due to lack of ink flow to cool the print head during printing with a Canon printer.

Would once a week be sufficient? Could you go longer? That is something you will find out that is specific to your environmental conditions and the limitations of the print head and ink used. I may go a couple weeks without printing anything with my MP830, but do not recommend this to anyone else.