Brother Magic! Print Black without color cartridges.

The Hat

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If you wish to investigate the possibilities of fitting an external waste ink tank, then I am afraid there’s only one possible way to do that and that is to do it yourself.

By first removing the top cover from the printer that can tell you a lot about what going on underneath and if you nose around long enough you will find the purge unit and its outlet tube.

After that fitting an external waste tank should come easier, you’ll just have to drill a small hole in that area to allow for the tubing to be pushed out the back, side or bottom, resetting the counter may be more difficult dough..
 

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Resetting the counter is unknown at least on my printer I cant find the codes, however there is code for factory reset.

So the procedure to trick printer is ?
 

BOYNTONSTU

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If you wish to investigate the possibilities of fitting an external waste ink tank, then I am afraid there’s only one possible way to do that and that is to do it yourself.

By first removing the top cover from the printer that can tell you a lot about what going on underneath and if you nose around long enough you will find the purge unit and its outlet tube.

After that fitting an external waste tank should come easier, you’ll just have to drill a small hole in that area to allow for the tubing to be pushed out the back, side or bottom, resetting the counter may be more difficult dough..

It is more complicated in the Brother. There is a purge tank on the left side and an absorber tank on the right side. In what seems like an unnecessarily complicated system, Brother pumps the waste ink from the purge tank to the absorber tank. My thinking is that it may be possible to intercept the wast ink before the purge tank and drain it. Here are a few videos that you may find interesting:


and

There has gotta be a better way.
 

The Hat

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Ink waste is not as completed as it looks or sounds, ask anyone that has fitted an external waste tank to their type of printer, and there are many.

If your type of printer has not been converted before then you’ll have to be the very first one to find out how to go about it, sorry.

It all starts with a good clean and well prepared working area that gives you 360 access to your printer and a couple of straight and cross head screwdrivers, flash light, plyers, latex gloves and of course a waste tank and fittings.

Don’t let the covers and sides of the printer intimidate you, they will come off if you just find the right spot to pull from and that is all there is to it, a few parts may also have to be removed for easier access.

So why don’t you go for it or this big waste ink monster will keep on hounding you till it becomes full, then ask yourself what do I do now.. :(
 

BOYNTONSTU

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I found this extreme hack but there is no photo and the word description does not match the video above.

Hi Sailor, thanks again for the help you gave me concerning my Brother MFC240C printer. I took the bull by the horns and attempted entry into the printer. After destroying many plastic clips I gave up and decided on a more direct approach. I reasoned where the ink absorber box may be, took a Dremel high speed tool and cut a 3 x 3 inch hole through the top of the case. Bingo! It worked.
The absorber was just below the hole. I replaced the saturated padding with heavily embossed paper toweling, sealed the opening with clear tape so I could monitor what was going on. My printer now works like new!!!!


I downloaded the service manual and it shows a lot more than an absorber sponge.

I know that your advice is good; patience and time +

It all starts with a good clean and well prepared working area that gives you 360 access to your printer and a couple of straight and cross head screwdrivers, flash light, plyers, latex gloves and of course a waste tank and fittings.

To Dremel or not to Dremel, that is the question? Perhaps a Dremel peek will not do much harm?

ask anyone that has fitted an external waste tank to their type of printer, and there are many.

I am asking. Do you know anyone who added a waste tank to a MFC-465CN or a MFC-240C?
 
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The Hat

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Yes this could work I'll see if my printer accepts the service mode codes
 

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Resetting the counter is unknown at least on my printer I cant find the codes, however there is code for factory reset.

So the procedure to trick printer is ?

Take off the front panel by removing 3 screws.
Look down and you will see 9 white wires going to a connector.
The middle one needs to be cut.
I use a curved pick to lift the middle wire and a pointed wire cutter to snip.
Done!
No more close cover, missing cartridges, .....
 
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