An arduous task, MP730 Ink Absorbers Nearly Full.

[turbguy]

Whew! Finally got the alarm "Ink Tank Nearly Full" alarm after many years.

Disassembled the printer (actually not too hard).

Found the purge unit submerged in black paste and wiped most of it off. Only about 1/2 the "diapers" absorbed anything!

Removed the old diapers, cleaned the base (yuck), and installed new diapers which I had on hand for YEARS.

Reassembled the printer, and it still worked great, except...

THE WASTE INK ALARM WAS STILL THERE!

I know I reset the alarm many years ago, but could not remember the button-press sequence.

Searched the Canon service manual for the MP700/MP730 model for reset instructions.

Although resetting the ink count is mentioned several time, the was NO clear step-by-step button-push instructions! GRRRR!

Went to the internet for MP730 waste reset, found NOTHING! Grrrrr!

Went back to the internet for MP700 waste reset. BANG!!!

"MP700
Resetting the Waste Ink Volume Counter
1) Enter SERVICE MODE.---
By pressing [Menu] then [Copy] then [#]
2) Select TEST MODE. (using + or - keys)
3) Press the [OK] key.
3) Press the [8] key. (TEST MODE)
4) Press the [3] key.
5) Press the [0] key. (INK COUNT).
6) Press the [OK] key.
7) Press the [Stop/Reset] key
9) Press the [ON/OFF]"

Alarm cleared! Back in service for many more years!

Now to clean the old waste diapers for future use.

 

[Artur5]

Long time no see you, man from Laramie.

Great news about your MP730. So it's one of the friendly old Canon models that doesn't requires a software tool to reset the counter. They don't make them like this anymore..

 

[The Hat]

Alarm cleared! Back in service for many more years!
Now to clean the old waste diapers for future use.

Thanks for the feedback @turbguy, great job and nicely done, (despite the little memory loss that happens to all of us), if you intend washing and cleaning the waste pads, when they dry they will shrink.

So when you come to use them a second time, soak them in water for half an hour to help them expand again, just put them between two pieces of newspaper and sit on them for a few seconds and that will remove 90% of the water.

Putting them back damp won’t reduce their efficiency, because the remaining moisture will evaporate over time.. I hope I’m still around when that happens..