Another Canon Printhead Bites The Dust?

[Emulator]

Canon 9000 II printhead nozzle check displaying signs of red failure. Despite several "cleaning" operations and overnight contact with a multilayer paper towel soaked in (The Hats favorite) Lidl W5 Window and Glass Cleaner and further "cleaning", it looks as though the red channel has gone, I suspect it is the electronics, not the nozzles.

What do the experts think?

I was interested to see that as the printhead was gently pressed against the W5 wet paper towel, ink welled up on the inlet filters and then returned as the printhead was lifted. This could be repeated, showing that the ink channels were clear.

 

[PeterBJ]

This looks to me like clogged nozzles in red. In my opinion electronic failure would show a more regular patters like upper or lower half of the stripe lighter than the other or a picket fence pattern. Could you make the test print from service mode? This test print has grid patterns for all colours, so it is much easier to determine if the error is electronic.

I have noticed that ammonia and window cleaner with ammonia seem to be impossible to obtain in the UK, but maybe this cleaner from Image Specialists is better than the Lidl W5? Link here: http://www.octoink.co.uk/products/Printhead-Cleaning-Solution-%2d-Canon{47}HP.html

Here is a link to a post where another print head cleaner available in the UK was used with success: http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/pixma-ip3600-stopped-printing-text.8148/#post-63213

Link to the cleaner here: http://www.printheadhospital.co.uk/

The most important ingredient in print head cleaning is patience, so don't give up yet.

 

[Emulator]

Thanks Peter, I'll try a print in service mode. I wonder if one can add some ammonia to W5? Perhaps dangerous? Or make up a dilute ammonia solution for soaking with the folded paper towel?

 

[PeterBJ]

If you can obtain it, ammonia could be added to the Lidl W5 window cleaner, I would suggest same concentration of ammonia used as is used in pharmacists cleaning solution, 20-25 drops or 1 ml of concentrated ammonia per 100 ml cleaning solution. Concentrated ammonia is around 25% in strength so if you can only obtain a weaker ammonia, increase the amount of ammonia accordingly.

You could also prepare a portion of "Pharmacist's cleaning solution." I have used this cleaning solution with success in very much the same way as your cleaning method: http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/canon-mp540-saved-by-pharmacists-cleaning-solution.8176/

And the link to the cleaning solution: http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/cleaning-solution-the-ultimate-test.5296/ . If you cannot obtain propylene glycol, 2ml of glycerol = glycerine can be used in stead of the 3 ml propylene glycol per 100 ml of solution.

Use only demineralized or distilled water for preparing "Pharmacist's cleaning solution" . The ammonia will cause the lime in hard water to precipitate. If the Lidl W5 stays clear after addition of ammonia, it is fine to use. If it turns opaque, it should be discarded, you dont want lime crystals inside the print head.

It looks like I was editing while you were posting, so check my post #2 for more suggestions for print head cleaners.

 

[Emulator]

Peter, these are the service mode prints. Does not look good to me. Anything else needed?

 

[The Hat]

Hi Ian

I think the jury’s out on this one, it does look a little bit irregular alright pointing towards some clogged nozzles but it also looks straight enough to be an electrical problem too.

You got nothing to lose trying to soak it in an ammonia mixture but I suspect your original diagnosis maybe correct and it has indeed failed, but for your sake I hope I’m wrong..

 

[PeterBJ]

A first glance I would say this is an electronic print head failure, but I am not sure, take a look at this thread: http://www.printerknowledge.com/thr...-not-clearly-showing-electronic-failure.8147/

The more radical print head cleaning methods I used in that thread are not recommendable. Instead I recommend continuing your gentle cleaning method, maybe for a week with daily checks, if there is any progress.

See this post by oroblec, it looks like PGBK is slowly and gradually coming back, so don't give up yet: http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/urgent-help-canon-ip4920.7972/page-6#post-66464

Any other comments on the extended nozzle check, which I think does not clearly show an electronic failure, as most but not all nozzles for one direction of print head travel are lost?

 

[mikling]

This phenomena appears to be more common on the 9000s. I've had one incident happen to me before. Put in another printhead that had been in storage from the i9900 days and the problem was solved. Then it returned again with hardly any use and the reqular nozzle check. Then during soaking operations, it started to also appear in another channel.

Both heads I had gone through was the initial one specified for the 9000 which was identical to the one for the i9900. Canon then made another model printhead to fit the 9000. There was a thread where Grandad35 had pointed this out but we did not conclude what the real differences were.

My suspicion is that the original printhead had issues because in the days of the 9900, even users using OEM carts seem to have issues with microbanding after prolonged use and the solution was to always replace the printhead. It could be inadequate design or maybe bad batches but for Canon to redesign a printhead whilst the printer was still being sold (Pro9000 MKII) is unusual.

Do you know which model printhead you have?

 

[Emulator]

Do you know which model printhead you have?

The end of the black plastic frame is marked with:-

BC1B08N0 QY6-0076
750630 MADE IN JAPAN

I have now got magenta fingers!

I have also noticed magenta oozing from between the black plastic frame and the white plastic or ceramic printhead. The head has not been disassembled.

 

[PeterBJ]

According to CRC Tasktron, the first used print head was QY6-0055, which was later replaced by QY6-0076. Link here: http://www.crc-tasktron.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=76

It seems your print head has sprung a leak, so you might likely need a new print head. I guess CRC Tasktron is the best EU supplier of Canon print heads.