Flushing my first set of cli42, can’t get them....

[Manuel Aspegren]

Hi again guys. Just a quick question about flushing and cleaning cli42 cartdriges.
I have flushed my cartridges with Ajax window cleaner that contains ammonia (can’t find Windex here in Sweden) several times and flushed them vid water. I have left the cartridges for about 2h soaking in the Ajax window cleaner.
The black and grey cartridges is really clean but the other cartridges is not coming out as clean. So how clean is ok? Are you guys getting the sponges 100% white or can you se a little of the colors in the sponge?

Best regards Manuel Aspegren

 

[stratman]

It is impossible for anyone to say to what extent you have successfully flushed your cartridges without being able to see or examine them. In general, it is OK if the cartridge sponge is not absolute white. The ink of the Pro-100s is Dye-based and water soluble, so it does not take much effort as long as the ink is no caked on,dried out or there is fungal growth.

The one critical point concerns the CLI-42 Yellow cartridge. If you do no adequately flush with Windex or similar product first before water flushes then you risk Yello Gello and a clogged print head with possible irreparable nozzle burn out.

Here is our Moderator @The Hat's instructions on flushing the CLI-42 Yellow cartridge. Using Pharmacist's Solution is not required for good cleaning but may enhance refill ink uptake in the cleaned sponge if that is an issue.

https://www.printerknowledge.com/th...estions-on-cli-251-printers.11587/#post-97508

 

[Manuel Aspegren]

It is impossible for anyone to say to what extent you have successfully flushed your cartridges without being able to see or examine them. In general, it is OK if the cartridge sponge is not absolute white. The ink of the Pro-100s is Dye-based and water soluble, so it does not take much effort as long as the ink is no caked on,dried out or there is fungal growth.

The one critical point concerns the CLI-42 Yellow cartridge. If you do no adequately flush with Windex or similar product first before water flushes then you risk Yello Gello and a clogged print head with possible irreparable nozzle burn out.

Here is our Moderator @The Hat's instructions on flushing the CLI-42 Yellow cartridge. Using Pharmacist's Solution is not required for good cleaning but may enhance refill ink uptake in the cleaned sponge if that is an issue.

https://www.printerknowledge.com/th...estions-on-cli-251-printers.11587/#post-97508

Ok. What can I do differently then flushing them with ammonia based window cleaner?

 

[stratman]

Read the link and follow @The Hat's instructions.

Alternatives are purchasing a properly flushed CLI-42 Yellow cartridge from a trusted source or use a flushed CLI-8 cartridge and swap the CLI-42 chip onto the "new" cartridge as both cartridges are the same or enough the same to be used interchangeably, except for the chips, of course!

 

[SkedAddled]

As @stratman mentions, only the yellow CLI-42 must be completely cleaned.
This is to prevent Canon's ink formula from coagulating into lumps
when diluted, which can permanently clog/damage the printhead.
While the Windex brand is most frequently mentioned for this,
it's been fairly well documented that other name-brand glass
cleaners containing ammonia are just as effective.

I have had great success in flushing my CLI-42 yellow cartridges to a state
of nearly perfect white, using window cleaner with ammonia, while the other
colors do not disappear so completely. The differences have been minimal
between using glass cleaner and only water, also.
I made sure to flush in different flow directions(from the fill hole):
Separately: In from the outlet, in from the vent;
Separately: Out through the outlet, out through the vent;
Simultaneously: In and out through both at the same time.
Using a combination of all the above will reveal flow patterns,
and you simply alternate as needed to achieve a complete flush.

Strangely enough, my own experience leaves more dye trace in the LGY
cart than GY and BK. The BK goes much whiter than the other two!
Colors also leave traces, some more than others.
With all of these except yellow, you can safely flush with only water
and not have to worry about the so-called "Jello" problem.

 

[Manuel Aspegren]

As @stratman mentions, only the yellow CLI-42 must be completely cleaned.
This is to prevent Canon's ink formula from coagulating into lumps
when diluted, which can permanently clog/damage the printhead.
While the Windex brand is most frequently mentioned for this,
it's been fairly well documented that other name-brand glass
cleaners containing ammonia are just as effective.

I have had great success in flushing my CLI-42 yellow cartridges to a state
of nearly perfect white, using window cleaner with ammonia, while the other
colors do not disappear so completely. The differences have been minimal
between using glass cleaner and only water, also.
I made sure to flush in different flow directions(from the fill hole):
Separately: In from the outlet, in from the vent;
Separately: Out through the outlet, out through the vent;
Simultaneously: In and out through both at the same time.
Using a combination of all the above will reveal flow patterns,
and you simply alternate as needed to achieve a complete flush.

Strangely enough, my own experience leaves more dye trace in the LGY
cart than GY and BK. The BK goes much whiter than the other two!
Colors also leave traces, some more than others.
With all of these except yellow, you can safely flush with only water
and not have to worry about the so-called "Jello" problem.

Ok thanks for your answers! Same here, the yellow seems ok but some of the blue tones are a little harder to clean. I think my carts are god enough. Thanks guys.

 

[The Hat]

This is to prevent Canon's ink formula from coagulating into lumps when diluted, which can permanently clog/damage the printhead.

If you ever have the misfortune of contacting Yello Gello, while it does cause quite a few headaches, it doesn’t permanently damage the print head, and it will take very many prints for the effect to wear off, the good news is, it does no lasting damage..

 

[SkedAddled]

If you ever have the misfortune of contacting Yello Gello, while it does cause quite a few headaches, it doesn’t permanently damage the print head, and it will take very many prints for the effect to wear off, the good news is, it does no lasting damage..

That's good to hear, as I've only read about permanent damage, or at least, what appeared to be permanent damage.

@Manuel Aspegren , here's a picture of my CLI-42 cartridge set after flushing:
PRO-100 cart refilling: Do I have this right?

You'll see that yellow is about as white as can be, while other carts are less so.
The picture is fairly bright as posted, but it gives you the general idea.
The non-yellow colors are slightly more intense after water-only flushing;
just be sure to clean the yellow as well as possible,
following the advice and instructions already provided.