Canon MP800R print problems following head clean

[apriloil]

Wondering if anyone can help with my MP800R print problems before I give in and buy a new (not as good!) model.

I recently changed the ink on several tanks (ran out approx same time). After doing so, I noticed the photo print quality was not as good as should be. (Normally fantastic quality). So I performed nozzle checks, cleaning, deep cleaning and it still did not help. After searching interweb I took a chance and extracted the print head and cleaned it with warm water. Dried thoroughly and reinserted in printer. After a few print head alignments and a little bit of cleaning (again) the nozzle check has now gone from bad to worse - showing some of the PGBK missing and also not aligned straight. Also, some of the colours are streaking. Argghhh - I am hoping that I can just buy a replacement print head to correct the problem but am not sure if it is something else (electrical perhaps?). I am quite happy to buy the replacement print head (approx 50.00 so not too bad) rather than trying to clean again.

If anyone could shed light on this, I would be grateful as I am that close to buying a new MP630 but the ink consumption is awful on this newer model. Anyway, i love my MP800R and don't want to resign it to the scrap heap yet.

I have been using non-Canon branded inks but haven't had a problem with these before and am always very pleased with the results I get from them but maybe they have killed my print head?

I have scanned in my last nozzle check.
Thanks.

 

[ghwellsjr]

This doesn't appear to be an electrical problem and a new print head would correct your one clogged nozzle and the nozzles that are not printing in the correct place, but the streaking that is obvious in the yellow is caused by an ink flow problem not clogged nozzles. The patterns for the dye inks are repeated four times over across the page so even though there appears to be clogging on the right side, the nozzles did work on the left side.

You really need to do an extended nozzle check to find out if the "streaking" in the other colors is nozzle related (repeats four times over) or an ink flow problem. I don't know how to do this with your printer. Maybe someone else will post how to do this.

An ink flow problem can be:
1) inside the print head
2) caused by an air leak in the rubber seal on top of the print head where the cartridge contacts it
3) caused by a bad ink cartridge (tank, as you call it).

My first suggestion is to replace your yellow cartridge, preferably with a Canon OEM, do a cleaning and a nozzle check.

 

[pharmacist]

Which refill ink are you using ? You said: all the ink have been replaced about the same time. Could it be that the refill ink is the problem ? Actually looking at your nozzle check printout, the likelihood of being an electrical problem of your printhead is very small.

I had this problem before with my previous MP780 and also with the cyan cartridge giving light streaks on the paper. I would suggest to use only original Canon cartridges and refill them with a good quality refill ink like: Inktec CLI-8, Hobbicolors UW-8 or Image Specialists Canon CLI-8 compatible inks.

For the black pigment PGI-5 ink cartridge: I would recommend the german KMP Pigment ink, which withstands long term usage without starvation of your printhead, as some people are reporting problems with the pigment ink from Inktec. This can be dealt with by mixing 3 parts of pigment ink with 1 part of dye ink to improve the flowing properties of this particular pigment ink.

 

[apriloil]

Thanks to both for your quick replies.

pharmacist - I have been using non-branded ink cartridges as a replacement so maybe they have finally caught up with me. I have been too frightened to use refill ink as I have heard it can be messy but think I will just go back to using Canon original replacements. Thanks for your suggestions though.

I am glad to hear that it doesn't look likely to be a electrical fault so will take my chances on a new print head & some new Canon inks.

I really appreciate both of your input and will post when I try my new parts out!

Many thanks

 

[pharmacist]

Look for my refill guide using the german durchstich refill method on this forum (actually: there are 2 guides) and you'll see refilling is very easy using this refill method and with a minimum chance of staining your fingers...

 

[embguy]

I had the same problem with my photo black on my MP830. It took me over 3 months on and off to fix the problem.

It is a clog inside the print head. Location is after the screen inlet port and before the nozzle. The rubber washer is not the problem. I tried every methods discussed on this forum until I tried the following procedure:

1. Buy clear plastic tubing from HomeDepot. The small ports take 5/16OD x 3/16ID tubing. The large black port takes 7/16OD x 5/16ID tubing.
2. Find syringes that fit tightly on these two tubings. OR something that can suck liquid up and hold liquid in the tubings.
3. Take out the rubber washers from the print head so that the tubing can fit around the inlet ports. Refer to the photo for details.
4. Fill a container with 1/8" of water. Put the print head in the water. Use the syringes to suck water from the print nozzles, through the print head, out at the inlet port and up the plastic tubing. Then push the water back out through the print nozzle. Do this a few times.
5. I let it sits overnight with a water column in the tubing. This ensures water is inside the print head. We are trying to clear the clog before the nozzles and after the inlet screen. This is the effective way to soak the clog well and flush it out after soaking.
6. Do the suck/push water through the print head a few time.
7. Dry the print head thoroughly. Put it back in the printer. Do a cleaning cycle. Run a nozzle check. Repeat steps 3 - 6 if needed.

Important: Please dry the print head thoroughly. Otherwise, you are running the risk of killing the print head. I use canned air to blow air inside.

This photo is from this thread --> http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=23966#p23966

 

[ghwellsjr]

Please make sure you let your print head sit in a warm spot for two days after you do any kind of cleaning outside the printer. I, unfortunately, did not follow my own advice recently and burned up a print head and the printer it was in. I hate to hear this happen to someone else.

 

[esp]

Awesome idea guys I did the whole procedure last night. I'm going to let it dry now.

I hope I didn't burn it out.. I actually wouldn't even know the signs of a burnt out print head.

 

[embguy]

I use canned compressed air to dry print head electronics. Good luck.

Blow air through the holes pointed by the red arrows. Not the inlet screen.

 

[ghwellsjr]

Awesome idea guys I did the whole procedure last night. I'm going to let it dry now.

I hope I didn't burn it out.. I actually wouldn't even know the signs of a burnt out print head.

You won't burn it out until you apply power to it, so as long as you haven't put it back in your printer, it won't be burned out.

There are many signs of a burnt out print head but basically it will look like clogged nozzles, except that it will follow a regular pattern, including no printout at all. That's what happend to me last week because I just used canned air and didn't wait two days.