How to unclog print heads.  Here are
What causes the print head to become clogged?

    1.  If the printer is not being used and left in storage, inks inside the print heads will dry up and over time and clog
    up the print heads.  It is a good practice to print a multi-colored purge pattern once every two weeks so all the
    nozzles are filled with inks.

    2.  Leaving the cartridge out of the printer, even for a few hours, could cause the print heads to clog.  Make sure
    when changing cartridges, install the new cartridges immediately.

    3. The use of a poor quality ink.  Poor quality ink clogs print heads.  A 4 oz set of high quality Archival Pigment Ink
    cost $128 - $160.  Stay away from the cheap inks to avoid wasting time and money.

    4.  Air blocking ink flow -  When using a CIS, the system is placed at the wrong level and air is allowed to enter the
    printer heads due to a reverse siphoning effect.  When air enters the print heads, the inks inside will dry.  Dry ink
    clogs print head.  Place the tank unit at the proper level to avoid reverse flow.  Each CIS is designed differently.  
    Gravity will pull the ink from the cartridge back to the external ink bottles when the cartridges is much higher than
    the inks in the external ink tank.  

    Our CIS has been balanced to supply the best fluid pressure for the best performance.
 
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    Keeping the ink flowing from the CIS external tank to the cartridges

    If your CIS has been in service for over two years, the printer has not been used for months, or you observed bands on the prints
    that cannot be cleared by normal cleaning, it is a good idea to check the CIS for wear or restricted ink flow.  

    Prime the CIS to test for flow problems in the lines.  

    Insert a syringe into the poppet valve and pull the plunger to remove ink from the cartridge, ink should flow without any restrictions.  
    Remove at least 10 - 15 ml ink from each color so all the ink in the lines are purged.  A resistance means the line might be
    clogged by dry ink.  Remove more ink if you must to see if ink is flowing smoothly.

    Caution:  Leaving the printer without a set of cartridges will cause ink to dry in the print head causing further problems.  Insert a set
    of cleaning cartridges into the printer at this time to print the multi-color purge pattern.  Print several pages so the cleaning fluid will
    go into the print head.  If the cleaning fluid is a mixture of ink and cleaning fluid, the prints will be lighter.  This is how you determine
    if the cleaning fluid is in the print head.

    For more information on how to clean the print head, click here for the latest updated post on how to unclog print heads.

    There is a small filter in the cartridge to filter out what should not go into the print head.  Over time, the filter could be clogged.  This
    happens most often on the matte black cartridge.  If the filter is clogged, ink will not flow from the external tank to the cartridges.  
    If the plunger of the syringe pulls freely but there in no flow, there is a leak somewhere.  The leak must be located and fixed before
    continuing the flow test.

    If you have a good reason to suspect ink drying up inside the external tank.  Priming the CIS to test for ink flow.

    Take care not to break the connectors on bottle caps

    Place a finger below the two connectors and lift the cap open.  

    The CIS shipped since 2007 has refill plugs on the back.  The connector
    does not have to be removed to refill the bottles.

    Broken connector/cap should be replaced before attempting to prime the
    CIS.  Email admin@efillink.com for replacement parts.
    If the printer is not used for several months, ink could dry up inside the line
    where it is close to the connector.  This happens especially if the connector
    is not tight.  Press the connector and tighten the screws at the same time,
    the connector should seal properly.  Never over tighten the screws as it will
    break the screws.  Finger tight the screws while pressing the connector
    against the tank.

    The connector could be removed and cleaned.  Be sure to check the o-rings
    are not damaged.  If you look closely, some tips are broken on purpose.  
    Don't worry.  Just be sure to check the o-rings.  Take care not to loose an o-
    ring when the connector is removed for cleaning.  Wipe off excess ink so
    different color inks will not be mixed causing contamination in the lines.

    Here is a tool that could be very useful.  This syringe is fitted with a flexible
    tube on the tip.  The syringe could be used to test the connector by fitting the
    flexible tube on each tip.  This tool could be used to test the connector tip.
    Use a small amount of cleaning fluid to inject into the connector.  This will
    allow you to test for ink flow and also clean the line if dry ink is found in the
    line/connecor.
 

    Clogged print head

    There are two places where dry ink will clog the print head.  Ink flows into the print
    head from the tiny holes on the cone on top of the manifold ( look closely you will
    see small holes on the cone )  The best way to clean this part is to use a flexible
    tube to supply cleaning fluid to the cone tip.  Do not force open the clog because
    this will damage the print head.  Return to check for update for more information
    on how not to damage the print head.  Send us a message by clicking Contact us
    button above if you have questions you want to add to this post.

    The print head can be removed for cleaning but it is very easy to ruin the print
    head during removal and if the wrong cleaning fluid is used for cleaning.  Do not
    take the print head out yourself unless you know exactly what to do and what to
    avoid.  The purpose is to prolong the life of the printer and not to cause damage
    while servicing the print head.

    Cleaning fluid -  A special head cleaning fluid formulated for cleaning the print
    head is recommended.  Windex could also be used.  

    How to clean the manifold?
    The manifold shown in the photo below could become clogged if the cartridge is
    left out of the printer.  Use cleaning fluid to dissolve the dry ink.  One method is to
    use a syringe to directly inject cleaning fluid into the cone part.  Caution: Forcing
    cleaning fluid into the print head will make the print head useless.  One way to do
    this is to remove the plunger before fitting the flexible tube on the syringe to the
    cone tip.  Drip cleaning fluid into the syringe after the syringe is in place.  Allow
    time for the cleaning fluid to drip into the print head.  Caution: Take precaution
    to avoid excess cleaning fluid not to drip onto the paper track where the paper
    sensor is located.  Ink spill onto the paper sensor could cause paper feed
    mal-function which might require a trip to the service center to correct.  


    ..............will be updated soon

    Do not take the print head out of the printer unless you know what you
    are doing or only as a last attempt to save the printer before sending the
    printer to the recycling center
  
 
 
 
 

    The cartridges should be removed from the printer to
    check for ink flow.  This can be done by priming the
    cartridges, just like how it was done before the cartridges
    was installed.  Tie the cartridges together with a rubber
    band.  Take your time to do this test.

    The printer should not be left without a cartridge installed.  
    Install a set of refillable cartridges with ink in the
    cartridges while the CIS is being serviced.