What Is Best Method To Prepare A Used MP810 Printhead For Storage?

Sid

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Actually, the printhead in question is a brand new one that I mentioned in another post as not working in my MP810 that toasted the original head. The new one now has ink residue on the surfaces that interface with the outlets of the ink carts. While I was never able to get the printer to respond to the new head, for all I know there is also ink down inside the new head. I want to keep it (after all, I paid fifty bucks US for it!!). Anyone know how to purge and clean these things for storage?
 

ghwellsjr

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If this head has been out of the printer for more than an hour, it's probably already too late.

But you can try the following:

Remove the rubber gaskets surrounding each inlet port on the top of the head. Get two pieces of tubing two or three feet long that will fit snuggly onto each type of port. You will need one diameter for the dye inks and a larger diameter for the pigment. Put about an eighth of and inch of Windex or some other window cleaner or distilled water into a saucer. Place the print head onto the liquid. Place the tubing over one of the ports and suck as much liquid through the print head as possible. Turn the print head and tubing over to deposit the liquid down the drain. Repeat until the liquid is clear for that port. Suck all the liquid out of that port. Repeat the whole process for each port.

For storage, put the original orange clip back on the print head if you still have it. Wrap it in paper towels. Store it in a zip lock bag without any additional liquid in the bag.
 

Sid

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Thanx for the detailed explanations, gh.... As a quick test with the burned out printhead, I set it in about a quarter-inch of distilled water just to see how much ink precipitated out and, instantly, black started floating out of the bottom inkjet area and water was drawn up to the very top of each of the color (dye) screens (where the ink tanks normally sit) and, after a few minutes began to appear at the screens of the two black ones. Interesting. I'll have to revisit the sticky of your thorough illustrated treatise on the anatomy of a printhead to learn more about the way these things are made and function. I'm amazed that anyone ever got these things to work at all, let alone to print as beautifully as they do. Amazing technolong!!
 
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