Running a 3880 without LLK? Fixing a LLK leak?

[edmundronald]

Hi,
- I switched my 3880 on after 10 years inactivity and it leaked black ink over the paper.
- Then the leak stopped, but bad nozzle checks.
- I tried to print some tests, and the printer switched from MK to PK, but no leaks.
- After a few days, all the nozzles came back except sporadic pieces of LLK only and no yellow.
- I realized my LLK cartridge was empty, yellow full, all other cartridges half full.
- I used window cleaner (Paris version) and yellow came back. NOW I HAD ALL CHANNELS APART FROM LLK where it was printing a tiny random piece here and there of LLK from time to time.
- I got a new LLK, put it in, IT LEAKED ALL OVER THE PAPER.

- At this point I've put the empty LLK cartridge back. My belief is I have an LLK leak, probably the printhead seal.

Question1: Is it worth fixing the leak?
Question2: What software would you use too print without LLK? I guess I can use Gutenprint to do it, and I have enough spectros and experience to fix the ink curves, but maybe there exists something more user friendly?

Edmund

 

[drfihl]

Hi,
- I switched my 3880 on after 10 years inactivity and it leaked black ink over the paper.
- Then the leak stopped, but bad nozzle checks.
- I tried to print some tests, and the printer switched from MK to PK, but no leaks.
- After a few days, all the nozzles came back except sporadic pieces of LLK only and no yellow.
- I realized my LLK cartridge was empty, yellow full, all other cartridges half full.
- I used window cleaner (Paris version) and yellow came back. NOW I HAD ALL CHANNELS APART FROM LLK where it was printing a tiny random piece here and there of LLK from time to time.
- I got a new LLK, put it in, IT LEAKED ALL OVER THE PAPER.

- At this point I've put the empty LLK cartridge back. My belief is I have an LLK leak, probably the printhead seal.

Question1: Is it worth fixing the leak?
Question2: What software would you use too print without LLK? I guess I can use Gutenprint to do it, and I have enough spectros and experience to fix the ink curves, but maybe there exists something more user friendly?

Edmund

I have just ditched a 3800 and a 3880. I had both for free with a history like yours. Mine printed reasonably well if I stayed with the MK and never switched to PK. If you want to print B&W. Read on. Use QTR and it will print beautifully. It takes som effort to get there but it is cheap and great quality. You will need third party cartridges or you will have to empy and clean your cartridges and use a chip resetter. Why I ditched my 2 printer. I bought a new SC p900 and the printers are now living a new life printing B&W. The gutenprintway seems quite difficult.