update--Noob goes refilling for first with Hobbicolors 5 color kit

[ghostbear]

After reading inst with kit I got started. Refilling all the tanks went well. The next step was to install newly inked tanks in my ip 4000. Well the first mistake I made was to lift the lever next to the ink tanks. As soon as I did this a bell went off that told me I did not need to do that, However It had been a while since installing tanks and I just forgot. I started removing all tanks in printer and that went ok. Next I started installing the tanks and all went well untill I started to remove the outlet cap on the yellow tank, well the tank cracked at the corner and you know what happened next. I put the old yellow back in and checked to make sure they were all locked in. Then I locked down the lever next to the tanks because I had left it up. Well I kinda thought this was a goof like I said , so I unlocked all the tanks and relocked them down. Next I printed something with colors and print and it had some banding and some light spots. Next I ran a light cleaning then a nozzle check and all looked ok. At this point I printed a page with a picture and print with various colors . Still not just right in the color dept so I kept on printing and all straightened out after a few pages. Noob is happy now even after a few goofs. I emailed Hobbicolors about my broken tank but have not gotten a reply yet. Oh yes I did not have any plastic gloves but will soon. <smile> Don't know If I messed anything up lifting the lever next to the tanks but I do plan the bone up on taking care of the ip4000 as I think it is a great printer. More updates to come as noob takes more steps in learning what all he doesn't know.

My thanks to all for your help so far
Best , ghostbear

 

[drc023]

Lifting the lever won't cause any harm to the printer. It's only there to lock the printhead into position. Hint: break off the outlet seal on the ink tanks and then hold them on with a rubber band before doing the initial ink fill. The caps on some of the tanks are attached more than is necessary and too much force is required to break them off. This is the first report I've heard about a tank actually breaking, but it is possible to sling a little ink when the caps are initially broken off. Having to run a cleaning cycle when a set of tanks is replaced is quite normal. The cleaning cycle helps prime the printhead and starts a proper ink flow.

 

[ghostbear]

drc023,
Very good hint on the outlet cap seal, it is now my new proceedure. This was my first refilling and I am very happy with Hobbicolors product and service. Dave at Hobbicolors emailed back and is sending me a prefilled tank for the one that broke and asked me to mail in the defective tank for inspection. Service with Hobbicolors is great and I'll be sending the cracked tank back right away.

Best , ghostbear

 

[Osage]

I certainly now agree with any posting recommending that the hobbicolor ink outlet cap should be removed prior to the first initial fill. But sadly I did not read that advice until I did my first fills of virgin cartridges. But I was feeling somewhat smug because I felt that a paper towel wrapped around the cartridge would be safe if done over a sink---no nude girl friend required.

On the larger BCI-3eblk cartridge this worked very well even though much force was required to break off the cap. A casual look at the uncapped ink outlet showed a well colored inkoutlet hole but no dripping. Made me feel better because I had some fear I had overfilled.

My BCI-6 yellow experience was not so happy. Again it took inordinate force to break off the ink outlet cap --and an equal force to hold the cartridge in my other hand. I must have squeezed the cartridge with the other hand because some ink squeezed out and soaked through the towel onto my hand. Probably out the air vent even though its was still taped over So I got caught yellow fingered. But at least I did not crack the cartridge. An inspection of the ink outlet hole again showed good color and no dripping. A light test squeeze forced ink out but all dripping ceased in a second or so.

Both cartridges are in the printer---nozzle check printed perfect----pulling the cartridges some hours later showed both nozzle outlets with no drips.

I therefore conclude the nude girlfriend idea has some merit. My wife may not be
troubled by the nude part but is far too fastidious to consent to the ink decanting exposure part. So I am trolling various porn sites looking for that girl with an ink fetish will travel.---no luck so far.

 

[hpnetserver]

When I broke off my first cap from my first OEM BCI-6 cart I spilled ink. I spilled again when I did it the 2nd time. I kept on spilling a few more times until I found that the way I hold the cartridge was responsible for the spill really. I looked at Canon's manual and sure it said not to press on the cartridge when breaking off the cap. I now hold the cartridge by pressing on the ends rather than the sides of the cartridge. Besides I will flip the cartridge so that its cap is on the top. I never spilled again. I will flip the cartridge again when the cap is off to check if ink will drip. If ink drips and continue to drip then I know the cartridge may be defective. If it does not drip then it is ready to be used.