Epson ET2800 head cleaning question

[Beadsmistress]

I converted one of my Epson Et2800 printers for sublimation. It was brand new, I use Hiipoo sublimation ink and all was well until I failed to use it regularly.
First thing, the yellow was not printing, then the black, then none. Now, the yellow is printing, but nothing else. I ran several nozzle checks and printer purge files over a few weeks time. I did not do the deep cleaning.
I purchased a print head cleaning kit, have watched several videos specific to this printer, and I am confident I have done everything correctly.
All the fluid is running clear (onto the towel) now.

I’ve heard it’s not a bad idea to let the wet towel stay in place to remove any unknown clogs. So, before I put it back together and let it rest/dry a few days, what do you recommend for a safe period of time for soaking with the clean towel (in the tray) and clean solution?

Thank you

 

[AmaDeuSbg]

Hey,

Most likely due to the inactivity the ink in the dampers went back to the reservoirs and the ink lines and dampers are full of air.

Possibilty one is (if you know how to do it) to open the printer top and access the dampers and such the air with a syringe (open the rubber of the yellow reservoir and take out the yellow damper from the head and put the syringe from the bottom of the damper and just suck in the air. The damper will fill with ink (don't fill the whole damper but leave it half empty). Do this with all the channels.

Another thing to try is to do a power ink flushing from the maintenance menu of the printer driver if you do not feel confident enough to open the printer - this might also fix the issue but if it doesn't, will be good to open and see if there are ink in the dampers.

There is a possibilty the head clogged and then you will have to use a cleaning solution etc but if the ink you use is of high quality and the printer was used sooner than 2-3 months the possibilty of fully dried out head I think is small.

edit: I read now that you tried cleaning solution, meaning that you saw the damper condition? were they full of ink?

Was the cleaning solution going freely in the head if you pumped in through the nozzles? I hope you did not use a lot of force while doing this?

Can you post a nozzle check?

 

[Beadsmistress]

Hey,

Most likely due to the inactivity the ink in the dampers went back to the reservoirs and the ink lines and dampers are full of air.

Possibilty one is (if you know how to do it) to open the printer top and access the dampers and such the air with a syringe (open the rubber of the yellow reservoir and take out the yellow damper from the head and put the syringe from the bottom of the damper and just suck in the air. The damper will fill with ink (don't fill the whole damper but leave it half empty). Do this with all the channels.

Another thing to try is to do a power ink flushing from the maintenance menu of the printer driver if you do not feel confident enough to open the printer - this might also fix the issue but if it doesn't, will be good to open and see if there are ink in the dampers.

There is a possibilty the head clogged and then you will have to use a cleaning solution etc but if the ink you use is of high quality and the printer was used sooner than 2-3 months the possibilty of fully dried out head I think is small.

edit: I read now that you tried cleaning solution, meaning that you saw the damper condition? were they full of ink?

Was the cleaning solution going freely in the head if you pumped in through the nozzles? I hope you did not use a lot of force while doing this?

Can you post a nozzle check?

Hi, thank you for your reply. I didn’t know what a damper was, (lol, I’m an adventurous old lady) but it was easy to find out. And, yes, my cartridges were pretty dry! I was able to pull the ink in using the syringe from my cleaning kit. Now they’re full, but I’m going to wait a day or so with everything open to dry. I’ve removed the wet towel and left the cartridges unseated.
I’ll run a nozzle check tomorrow, or Sunday when I’m comfortable it’s all dry and do a follow up here.

I’m hopeful! Thank you very much!

 

[AmaDeuSbg]

No problem, hope the printer is revived in the end. Even if cleaning solution is left in the nozzles it is no problem, the ink will push the cleaning solution (if it is a normal one), I am not sure if you can even do more harm if you leave it like that to dry. I've always put back cartridges and run a normal cleaning to see the result (also with sublimation inks) and I had no problem. The only problem I can think of is if you wet the head connections or cables with the cleaning solution, otherwise it should be no problem to put cartridges and try (if I am not mistaken). You can wait for a someone more experienced to take part in the discussion also, just in case.

 

[AmaDeuSbg]

P.S: The cartridges should not be full full, there should be half of the cartridge full of air (about 50% full is OK), left should be left inside in order for the ink to flow freely. If you fill them to the top, you can disconnect the inktube and suck a little of the ink from the bottom and connect the ink tube again and suck air until 50% or so is full in the cartridge.