How Long Maximum Could You Submerge the Heads in the Cleaning Solution?

[Alvin777]

Hello, I have a Canon MP287.

Both the color and black cartridges, some of it's nozzles are closed (has lines in the test print). I've tried deep cleaning about 5 to 9 times straight but it's still the same and other methods like sucking using a suction device. I did buy a cleaning solution, Cuyi brand (it looks like Windex w/ ammonia) to submerge the head in it but how long, how many hours or days, should the heads be submerged in inkjet cleaning solutions?

God bless, Revelation 21:4

 

[kdsdata]

First, I never "submerge" the head. I only soak the ports. Place the head on a paper towel in a small bowl, add solution to keep the towel wet. Replace the towel from time to time. Your patience will determine how long you can/will soak it. Obviously the longer the better. I know, I had one that I soaked for a few days, and I was lucky. It did free the port. Yes it does depend on whether the port is burned. Hope you have patience, and luck. Not much else works ^_^.

 

[Alvin777]

First, I never "submerge" the head. I only soak the ports. Place the head on a paper towel in a small bowl, add solution to keep the towel wet. Replace the towel from time to time. Your patience will determine how long you can/will soak it. Obviously the longer the better. I know, I had one that I soaked for a few days, and I was lucky. It did free the port. Yes it does depend on whether the port is burned. Hope you have patience, and luck. Not much else works ^_^.

Thanks for the tip. How many days was your longest, also how many times did you replace the towel (maybe how many hours was the interval). I can force patience when it's needed :-D into my system. If you can recommend the solution you used to dissolve the ink, that'd be great.

Thanks again.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

First, I never "submerge" the head. I only soak the ports. Place the head on a paper towel in a small bowl, add solution to keep the towel wet. Replace the towel from time to time. Your patience will determine how long you can/will soak it. Obviously the longer the better. I know, I had one that I soaked for a few days, and I was lucky. It did free the port. Yes it does depend on whether the port is burned. Hope you have patience, and luck. Not much else works ^_^.

I'll second this. I just put the head, held upright, in a very shallow layer of cleaner. Leave as long as you want.

 

[Artur5]

Depending on the composition of the cleaning liquid, leaving it for long periods of time might be risky. Ammonia attacks copper and other metals, albeit slowly. The percentaje of ammonia in Windex and similar products is low, but even so I wouldn't take the chance. For long, long soakings I'd rather use distilled water with some drops of dish soap.

 

[Downunder]

I gave a printer to our son who wasn't regularly printing and the head became clogged.
I tried the fluid method a few times but it didn't work.
It seems that some of the ink becomes very dry in the white part of the head and is almost impossible to loosen with the fluid method.
I would try the normal fluid method first but if that doesn't work try this.

How to clear a stubborn blocked printhead.

1 Remove the head from the printer.
2. Remove the 2 screws under the printhead. Put the 2 screws away safely!
3. Get a small plastic container to put the head in.
4. Fold the printhead out gently.
5. Shine a torchlight through the white part of the head and you will see the blockage/s.
6. Then get some electronic cleaning solvent (I used CRC CO Contact Cleaner).
7. Use the long red extension piece (photo) and spray it into the blocked holes on the white base. Very messy!
8 Also spray the cleaner through the black holes underneath the head plus the rubber seal while it is dismantled.
9. Place it on a paper towel and let it dry out - usually fairly quick as it is a solvent.
10 Place the rubber seal back in the correct position and then fold the head down gently.
11 Put the screws in and screw the head down.
12 Replace head back in printer.

The head in the photos has been cleaned.
Does it work - yes I have tried it on a few heads that I had kept which were blocked and now work.
Magenta seems to be the worst offender in blockages.

 

[The Hat]

I've tried deep cleaning about 5 to 9 times straight but it's still the same

Firstly lets clear up some mistakes here, Don’t run more than two deep head cleans in any one hour, it has the potential to burn out the nozzles in the head and make it useless.

I can force patience when it's needed :-D into my system. If you can recommend the solution you used to dissolve the ink,

Now whichever cleaning method you choose, please stay away from Windex, that liquid is not good for continued soaking, it will also damage the nozzles, and as suggested by @Artur5 try warm water and a few drops of washing up liquid.. Soaking should take hours not days to see the results.
Now with all that cleaning something should have worked, so the best place to start from should be your cartridges, replace your existing cartridges and try again, and the word patience means take it slowly because at times like this it’s your best friend..
If the new carts don’t work then it’s time for a new print head. Sorry..

How to clear a stubborn blocked printhead.

Now as for this suggestion.. It’s all total rubbish and should never be used..

Never ever take a screwdriver to your print head useless you want to render it totally useless, that’s a mugs game and only used by someone who knows nothing about Canon print heads whatsoever.. so forget this whole post…

 

[Alvin777]

Thanks. I could adjust from the usual to extreme solutions, by the way, I have a ultrasonic cleaner (just regular, small one for small parts & fountain pens, not the industrial one). Would the vibration damage the heads (and the nozzles in it)?

As maybe last or second to last resort, If it's safe for the cartridges, I plan to fill the ultrasonic cleaner w/ distilled water w/ washing liquid and submerge just the heads (not passing the contact points, just a few millimeters submerged), and hold that manually, ultrasonic clean it for about 3 minutes intervals 3x (total of 9 minutes non-continuous)?

If distilled water doesn't work, I could put the cleaning solution in a small cup, submerge that cup in the distilled water then manually hold the cartridges just enough for the heads to be submerged, just millimeters in the water for the same amount of time and number of times, as above?

(note: while it's being ultra-sonicly cleaned I'm wiping with cotton buds gently. The cutton buds are bent (w/ the cotton part, flattened too) so that it can wipe the heads while it's under the fluid and ultra-sonicly vibrating those stubborn microscopic clogs)

 

[Downunder]

If the new carts don’t work then it’s time for a new print head. Sorry..

You can't get some of the older printheads they are unavailable

Now as for this suggestion.. It’s all total rubbish and should never be used..

Never ever take a screwdriver to your print head useless you want to render it totally useless, that’s a mugs game and only used by someone who knows nothing about Canon print heads whatsoever.. so forget this whole post…

Hi The Hat,

I said that if the fluid method didn't work try my method. Better than throwing the printer out.

You can throw the head in the bin as most of the old printheads aren't available anymore - that was a QY6-0078.
Unavailable - except refurbs from China.

The MG6250 with that repaired QY6-0078 head now has 10701- 10750 pages so it was worthwhile cleaning.

Me - I have been refilling cartridges for at least 15 years - I completed a 5 year apprenticeship as an Electronic Technician - I also have a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Electronics. I repair Windows and Mac computers though Macs are becoming more difficult.

So I would suggest my electronic qualifications are better overall than most as they are both trade and degree level. I find it difficult when people such as yourself rubbish someone's idea that works.
Have you tried this method?

I also used this method on two QY6-0080 printheads which I was about to throw out that were clogged so the methodology works.
It isn't that hard - try it.

Maybe you don't have the skillset - but don't try to dissuade other people from trying the method when it means that you may save an old printer & head.

 

[The Hat]

I have a ultrasonic cleaner (just regular, small one for small parts & fountain pens, not the industrial one). Would the vibration damage the heads (and the nozzles in it)?

Patients is what was recommend to you, not an ultrasonic cleaner, the print head most like won’t survive that sort of treatment, there are no shortcuts to diagnosing a print head issue, the old fashioned ways are still the best and most reliable..

So I would suggest my electronic qualifications are better overall than most as they are both trade and degree level. I find it difficult when people such as yourself rubbish someone's idea that works. Maybe you don't have the skillset - but don't try to dissuade other people from trying the method when it means that you may save an old printer & head.

I really don’t know how to respond to your comments, because I have spent 47 years in the print industry, but that still doesn’t make me any more qualified that anyone else here when it comes to dealing with inkjet printers..

We always ask others not to try stupid methods and suggestions that will come to nothing, regardless how qualified some one else reckons they are, degree in hand or not, inkjet printer are in a league of their own and require much more specialised treatment..

I don’t give out any poor suggestions or false hopes to anyone, and I recommend you should try and do the same here.. You should know your limits..