What is causing this printing problem?

Martijn74

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Hi all,
I've been using my Canon MG5750 for over a year without any problems. I'm using refillable autoreset cartridges. Not sure of the brand. All of a sudden it has started to print blurry. Some text is sharp some is not. I've done the standard cleaning procedure and tried printhead alignment, but that doesn't seem to do anything. I've uploaded the standard print test. You can see that the letters PGBK are unsharp as is the grid next to it. Also I tried printing a photo. In the result you can see strange horizontal lines and notice that the edges of the photo aren't straight. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and how to fix?
Thanks,
Martijn
 

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PeterBJ

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The nozzle check shows that the pigment black nozzles have been damaged. Only a new print head can correct this error. Some say the use of an unsuitable non-OEM ink can cause this kind of damage. Only a new print head can correct this error. But a new print head might be too expensive compared to the cost of a new similar printer.

The photo shows ink starvation in black. If photo paper is specified when printing the problem is with dye (photo) black. If plain paper is specified when printing the problem is with pigment black. Ink starvation is most often caused by the ink cartridges.

The print head type number is QY6-0082, so you can search the web. Here is a German supplier. There are more regular suppliers in Europe. Avoid "Refurbished" print heads from the far east which are often offered on Ebay. They are often used and defective print heads that have been cleaned to look like new and packaged in counterfeit foil bags and cardboard boxes.

If bad ink and bad cartridges caused the damage to the print head, a new print head most likely will also be damaged soon. So what kind of ink and cartridges do you use?
 

stratman

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The vertical lines in the PGBK lattice nozzle check should be single lines. Instead, they are split and narrow oval in shape. This is due to heat that has warped the nozzles and is irreparable. You need a new print head.

Canon print head heat up the ink to spit it out on the paper. The ink acts as a cooling agent for the heated nozzles to prevent damage. Also, this heat damage may be due to poor cooling characteristics of the PGBK ink used and possibly poor delivery of that ink from the cartridge to the nozzles.
 

Martijn74

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Ouch. That's the second time then that I fried a print head. :( I just checked, and indeed buying a new MG5750 is cheaper than a print head. Sorry planet.

The ink and cartridges were supplied by www.smartink.nl under their own brand. It's probably just white label stuff they resell. No idea from where it came. I could drop them a line. If it's their ink or cartidges causing the problem they should want to know.

Thanks PeterBJ and stratman for your expertise.
 

The Hat

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@Martijn74, Don’t give up so quick, you could try cleaning the timing strip, it may not work but try it anyway, the cartridges your using are to blame for the lack of ink on your print and continuing to print photos will definitely kill the print head, yet the black oval is perfect. :hu

Try this place for compatible carts... https://www.123inkt.nl/
 

PeterBJ

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It looks like the problem with the double lines in the PGBK grid first appeared after the introduction of the PGI-x50/CLI-x51 cartridge generation. Maybe the print heads for this and later cartridge generations are more fragile and need a special ink with special additives patented by Canon? All aftermarket inks might then ruin the print heads.

This is just an idea I got, but maybe it is not quite untrue?
 

Martijn74

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@Martijn74, Don’t give up so quick, you could try cleaning the timing strip, it may not work but try it anyway, the cartridges your using are to blame for the lack of ink on your print and continuing to print photos will definitely kill the print head, yet the black oval is perfect. :hu

Try this place for compatible carts... https://www.123inkt.nl/

Ah, sorry. Forgot to mention the black oval. As PeterBJ guessed, I added that digitally. I'll try cleaning the timing strip and let you know if that does anything.
Another thing I didn't mention is that I have replaced the black cartridges with new ones from www.123inkt.nl to check if replacing the cartridges would help, which it didn't.
 

PeterBJ

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Sorry to say it, but I'm quite sure the print head suffers from warped pigment black nozzles, and no amount of cleaning or even the use of new OEM cartridges will correct the error. Only a new print head will make the printer OK again, but that is bad economy. Maybe it is time for a new printer?

A work-around for printing text is using the photo black instead of the pigment black ink. This is done by selecting matte photo paper as the printing media. Printing will be slower though and the print is not waterproof.

The new Canon TS series printers are more compact than the MG5750 and more elegant IMO. They also have the rear feed for photo paper back. But I have never owned nor tested any of the TS series printers so I cannot say anything about the quality.

Some like the Canon Maxify series printers and have successfully refilled them. They are office printers with 4 pigment inks, so they are not photo printers. I don't know the Maxify printers, so I cannot tell anything about the quality.
 

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