Canon MP610

[Dom]

Hi Printerknowledge folks
Amazing forum you have here.
I have a question about my Canon MP610 which I have owned from new.
I know that there are amazing printers available for around $300usd ( PRO-10 and PRO-100 come to mind) but when I reflect on my MP610's practically new condition and formerly great print quality I cant bear to just trash it without making some attempt at revival - this being made worse by the fact that it was my ignorance that damaged it in the first place. Thanks to the information on this forum I now know better.
I cooked the original printhead by continuing greyscale printing onto plain paper while one of the colour tanks had run out yielding the "052 printhead not recognized" error. Like a lot of ignorant consumers who owned this high quality printer I had no understanding of the thermal printhead technology that Canon uses and kind of resented the high ink operating cost.
Ive subsequently bought 2 printheads from (not Chinese) Ebay sellers - one in foil described as "new" and the other described as used but tested as working.
The problem with both of these printheads is that there is nothing being printed from the printer (not even a nozzle test). The printer otherwise operates as normal without error messages. When I examine the printhead after trying to print a nozzle test there appears to be ink on the nozzles indicating perhaps that both logic board and printhead are working OK (?) I have no idea of the condition of the purge system though. The printer has sat idle for many months.
Could someone tell me if the problem might relate to the printheads, the purging / priming system or the logic board? Does the printhead need to be primed first to operate? Ive read here that air in the nozzles might prevent the flow of ink.
The damage occurred using Canon tanks but for trying to resolve this problem Ive switched to refillable tanks and an ink supplier who states the following on their website:
"The supplied refill ink is not made by Canon, but is formulated to match the properties of original Canon ink. Premium grade, US made dye and pigment inks, for high quality, reliable and economical printing. NOT universal or Chinese ink. "
Thanks.
Dom

 

[stratman]

"052 printhead not recognized" error

https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/index?page=content&id=ART138026

1) Are you sure you are using the correct print head? What is the part number for the print heads you bought online? Print heads bought off eBay in the States may still be sourced from China. These are notorious for malfunctions.

That neither worked could be due to the reputation for malfunctioning Chinese sourced print heads. It also could be that a malfunctioning logic assay board, with or without that electrical issue spreading to the print head itself. It could also be that the newly installed print head has not been primed, whether this involves the purge unit or not.

2) Are you able to print out a nozzle check or is there nothing? If anything prints then scan, crop and post the image here.

3) Remove bad cartridges from the equation. Use only known working or new cartridges to make sure lack of ink flow due to a cartridge issue is not the problem.

4) Check your purge system functioning. You may use water for the test.

http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/urgent-help-canon-ip4920.7972/page-4#post-66333

Image of the purge pads found on the right side of the printer and is the place where the print head parks when not printing:

https://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/why-does-the-ink-turn-dark.5495/#post-39723

 

[Dom]

Thanks for the reply and apologies for the delay.
I cooked the original printhead which was a qy6-0067. The two other printheads Ive bought were a qy6-067 (from Hungary - appeared to have been pulled from a working printer as it was covered in ink) and a qy6-0075 (from Australia - described as new and in sealed foil package but would probably be refurbished).
There is nothing being printed including running a nozzle check.
I have replaced the OEM carts and still no nozzle check is printed.
Ive saturated the purge pads with distilled water and then allowed the printhead to park. When inspected with the cover opened again the water had disappeared indicating that the purge unit is working.
I suppose that indicates a problem with the printhead or logic board right?
After the printhead has been primed there is ink both on the nozzle side and on the cart side of the printhead which I suppose confirms that the purge unit is not at fault. Ive attached photos.
So I suppose I have to replace the logic board to confirm that the problem is the printhead?

Cheers
Dom

 

[stratman]

qy6-067

QY6-0067

I suppose that indicates a problem with the printhead or logic board right?

The easy answer is yes. The more complete answer is it is either one or both.

If the print head failure was spontaneous, instead of gradual, then the odds are electrical failure. Where this failure initially occurred is unknown. There is also the rare possibility of an electrical failure in the print head can propagate to the logic assay board and vice versa. Usually, mostly, the print head is the culprit and replacing it gets you back to printing.

The issue is clouded by the question of functioning of the replacement print heads. It is unknown if they were working to begin with. Seems the odds would be that something would print, even if not from all the cartridges. But, we cannot be sure due to the provenance of the print heads, at least that I can surmise from the information you provided.

Let's say you replace your logic assay board, using any of the three print heads you have may cause an electrical malfunction in the replacement board. This is a very rare occurrence but has been reported.

Maybe another print head will work. Third time's the charm, right? Or you could be throwing good money after bad.

It may be time to buy a new printer.

 

[Dom]

If the print head failure was spontaneous, instead of gradual, then the odds are electrical failure

Yes I was printing PGBK onto plain paper and the printing was banded horizontally ie: alternate bands of printing / not printing.
Oh well - might persevere with it anyway.
Thanks
Dom

 

[stratman]

the printing was banded horizontally ie: alternate bands of printing / not printing.

Sounds like the PGBK channel is fried. Irreversible failure.

If the other channels work, the color ones, then you can simulate the Plain Paper setting to get black text by choosing Matte Paper or one of the photographic settings. Of course the text will be Dye based ink and not Pigment, so it will not look as deep black, as sharp, or be water resistant, but you can still use your regular plain paper.

If there is no ink output from the printer then you can continue to tinker, such as try another print head or replace the logic assay board, OR, buy a new printer and enjoy printing again.

 

[Kewood]

Hello Dom,
I have had a similar experience as you With a much loved and the best printyer I have ever owned Cannon MP810 which is using the same Printhead as yours QY6-0075, and thought the same I am going to repair this printer as I have Poss a year of ink to use, and a spare original Japanese Made in Japan Head purchased about 5 years ago,
After purchasing a Service Manual, then went onto EBAY and was lucky enough to source a Logic Board in the USA, I went through everything purging & flushing out the printhead, I must admit I think I caused the fault as the PGI 5 Tank went dry, and forgot when it was half full when the empty tank message came up and reset the tank to finish a print run, and forgot to check a few weeks later during another print run,
I got into the Service Mode resetting everything changed back to original Head even tried my new original spare, the printer did everything as usual but no Ink, on the paper or Nozzle check pattern, so in desperation managed to unassemble, it was very tricky to find all the secret screws and tabs to release everything, previously did everything in the service manual incl pads were not at fault cleaned it all up, the logic board was very difficult to access marked all the plugs for identification on
re assembly very difficult job but was determined to experience stripping it down and putting it back together again with this new Logic board

Won't go into all the mistakes I made, on Reassembly but make sure you remove the head and let it park in correct location the Carriage locations, and watch the Purge rubber mat holds the Filter lugs otherwise they fall out and have to Unassemble to recover them, is a pain

It actually is working now so it was the Logic Board, after tinkering about with it a bit
Their is still a MP810 logic board on EBAY out of a working printer, they may have one for you if mine is different??

Mind you these printers are now over 12 Years old, just tells you something

Kevin

 

[Kewood]

Hello again,
Have just checked EBAY and you are very lucky their are complete MP610 printers available,
even Logic boards in the USA
He is 303 Electronics must be a fairly big Printer parts reseller he has a tested MP610 with test print etc
and the logic board available for your printer,

Have also noted from forums that if the PGI-5 black tank runs completely dry it can fry the Head and damage Logic Board

Hope all this info helps you

kevin

 

[Dom]

Hey Kevin
Thanks for the reply.
Yes I suspect it is the logic board and have ordered the one you referred to from the US. It seems the purge unit is pulling the ink through the printhead and there isnt any thermal ejection of ink. One of the printheads Ive got was bought new by an Ebay seller from a retailer at the time when these printers were current. The other printhead from Hungary / Germany was probably just a rip off.
Encouraging that you got the MP810 going again. Did the dis-assembly / reassembly cause any problems with print quality?
I think if I were to buy a new printer it would probably be a new printer not a 12 year old one. I suppose its a bit irrational but the point is to get the one I own going again because if I hadnt ruined it with ignorance it would probably still be producing fine prints.
Dont know what you mean by filter lugs though but I suppose I'll find out - do you mean those solid purge unit parts that look like sponges?
Cheers
Dom