Pixma iX6850... Yellow is completely Missing ?

floK

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Am I right in thinking that you said that when under normal printing, the colors (including yellow) are all produced?
No, the yellow is missing in all the prints.
What I said (and probably confused you) is that the banding (the white strips visible in the nozzle check pattern) doesn't appear in the normal printing.
 

arw4

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Ah, that makes more sense. Sorry - I misunderstood. That "missing yellow" must be producing a pretty strong colour cast in your printing!

Well, I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavours, FloK. Let us know how you get on with Mikling's suggestion. Certainly worth a go, but since it's been a fairly long-term problem, it may now be there to stay unfortunately. Good luck anyway. If it comes to it, I think you're right in your thoughts about sticking with Canon. I don't believe Canon printers fair any worse than the other printer manufacturers for clogging. With mine, I tend to print something out every few days, even if I don't actually need print. This at least helps keep ink/print-head problems at bay.
 

stratman

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I tend to print something out every few days, even if I don't actually need print. This at least helps keep ink/print-head problems at bay.
Forum consensus is a nozzle check is all you need for maintenance once a week or so.
 

floK

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Epilogue (or from Funeral March to Ode to Joy) :)

Well, yesterday I tried all day to fix the problem with the yellow ink flow.
I started with @mikling's recommended method and, for the beginning, the result seemed to be encouraging, as after only a few drops of solution on the intake mesh I was able to see a trace of yellow - about a third of the length of nozzles line - on the paper towel below.
But then, with all the attempts, I couldn't manage to lengthen that trace even one millimeter...
So I went to the "classical" unclogging procedure of the printhead, by soaking the nozzles in a solution of ammonia detergent and with a piece of hose filled with the same solution vertically mounted on the yellow ink inlet port.
I left it to soak about six hours, then I let it to dry about two hours and finally, I put it back in the printer for a test.
At the first nozzle check, some irregular traces of yellow appeared in the corresponding space. Promising.
But at the second attempt - again, nothing there!

So... I poured myself a double scotch and, while crooning the Chopin's Funeral March for my defunct IX6850 :D I started to look for a store that still had an IP7250 in its stock.

Let me explain a bit my decision: maybe I could have tried harder to fix the missing yellow problem and, eventually, probably I would have succeeded. Or not.
But this printer is already compromised - the dysfunction of the pigment black subassembly is a pretty annoying issue - and I feel no more motivation for spending so much time to fix the other problems that
continue to occur.
On the other hand, the models that use 550/551 cartridges were discontinued for some time and are getting harder to find, so I can't wait until this printer will completely fail in order to replace it (as I mentioned, I still have enough inks and refilling tools for this type of cartridges, so I don't want to change the system).

Well, I finally managed to find an IP7250 in a supermarket not too far from my house and, this morning, I went there and bought it with $90 (a bit less than the cost of a replacement printhead for the IX6850 :)).
Firstly, when I unpacked it, I was a bit disappointed by the design, that is much less attractive than that of the IX6850.
But the installation and connection to wifi network were simple and fast, so I started to test it and... the Ode to Joy started to sound! The nozzle check print was flawless and the penguins have now beautiful colors :)
I also printed some photos for comparing them with those that were printed by the IX6850 when it was new (I keep them in an album) and, as I expected, the quality is the same - very good!

So, I'm very satisfied with my new Canon and I hope that, with the experience that I have now, I'll be able to maintain it in good functioning for longer.

Many thanks to all of you that helped me with good advice, I hope we'll keep in touch!
 

stratman

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Feels good to stop hammering a square peg in a round hole.

Congrats on your new printer. Print something that uses ALL cartridges every week or so to help prevent clogs. A nozzle check will do.
 

floK

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Thanks, indeed :D

I think it would be great if we had a device that automatically does this job, either when we are on vacation or when we just forget (among the many other tasks we have to do daily) :)
 

arw4

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Thanks, indeed :D

I think it would be great if we had a device that automatically does this job, either when we are on vacation or when we just forget (among the many other tasks we have to do daily) :)
Best not to give the printer manufacturers ideas like that! ;)

I like to do a nozzle check print at least once a week. It doesn't take more than a few seconds. Inspecting the print allows you to identify and swiftly address any issues that may arise before they become bigger problems if left unattended.

Glad you're all sorted now.
 
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