Cleaning clogged print heads ** Learn how to unclog print head clogs, install a CIS, how to use refillable cartridges. Saving money with quality bulk inks.

How to unclog print heads. Here are

How to keep the print head working like new?

Know your risks and read carefully before attempting to clean the print head yourself.

Useful tools:

1. A syringe with a flexible tube on the tip

2. Set of refillable cartridges

Click on the link to read about the two inkjet head cleaning methods

Method 1 :

Using cleaning cartridges to clean the print head

Method 2 :

pply cleaning fluid directly into the print head

efillink The Ink System Pro CIS with the Ultimate Pigment Inks

Know your risks

Caution: The two methods recommended here have been tested to work better than other

methods

have tried

. I cannot prove if you are following

methods

posted here

so I suggest

that you use

these

cleaning methods

only if

responsibility

for

your action

f for any reasons your printer is damaged while you

are cleaning the print head

you agree to take full

I will not pay for

your new printer.

Be sure to email

if you have any questions

regarding to

recommended cleaning

methods

posted here

Method

Use

cleaning cartridges to clean the print head

If your printer has not been used for months or if

the printer has been in service for over two

years

, a set of cleaning cartridges will help clean up the dry ink accumulated in and the print

head over time

The proper cleaning fluid will soften the dry ink in the print head and will

ink to

flow properly

working again without damage to the print head itself. Here I will try to explain in

detail how to keep the print head clean.

What to use as

Cleaning fluid

Our special head cleaning fluid is

the best choice for

clean

ing

dry ink

without

causing damage

the print head

. Warm distilled water could

lso work in some cases for minor clogs

Using the

cleaning cartridges is safe

and it should be the first choice

for

cleaning the print head.

How to make the cleaning cartridges?

Use a mixture of ink and cleaning fluid, 1:2 ratio. The nozzle check prints will come out lighter than

the original color.

You can make cleaning cartridges using a set of refillable cartridges

and fill it

with

the special head cleaning fluid and ink mixture. The cleaning fluid will flow into the print head as you

print. Because it takes time for the cleaning fluid to work, do not use the cleaning cycles when using

the cleaning cartridges. The cleaning cycles will pump out a good amount of cleaning fluid without

doing much cleaning. Be sure to

purge all the air bubbles from

the refillable cartridges so no air

bubbles will interfere with our print tests. Air bubbles

the print head would cause bands similar to

what happened when the print head is clogged.

Print tests

Now the cleaning cartridges is installed, use a multicolor pattern for print test to determine which

color is causing a problem with the printer. After the trouble color is identified, print only the

particular solid color pattern. Print at least 5 - 10 pages to get the cleaning fluid into the print head.

The lighter color prints will be your prove the cleaning fluid from the cartridges are being used.

Tips

Do not remove the cleaning cartridges unless you suspect there is a problem with air in the

cartridges. If you need to fill the cartridges with cleaning fluid, refill with the cartridges in the printer.

This will minimize the chance of air bubbles getting in the print head producing bands on purge test

prints which you try to eliminate.

For the R1800/R1900, if matte black is not used often, this nozzle will be the first one to

clog

completely. It is a good idea to print by selecting matte paper setting to force th

printer to use

matte black in stead of photo black.

Attention:

Tips: Fit a flexible tube or straw on the cone

inside the cartridge carriage

, put a few

drops of

head cleaning fluid into the

flexible tube or straw, allow a 6 hour wait before

installing the

cartridges.

This method uses gravity to feed the cleaning fluid into the

print head. This is safer

than using the syringe to apply the cleaning fluid.

Do not

remove the flexible tube

/straw once it

is fitted to the cone

prevent air bubbles

introduced when removing and installing the syringe.

Use a set of known

good Epson

cartridges or refillable cartridges/cleaning

cartridges

for printing

nozzle check

patterns.

Potential issues : E

xcessive cleaning fluid applied

to the print head will

leak out

and if

the

cartridge carriage is anywhere close to the paper sensor, the cleaning fluid could

short out the

paper sensor, causing a paper feed malfunction which will require a trip to

the service center.

You might want to place a piece of water resistant paper below the

carriage to catch spills.

Method

: A

pply cleaning fluid directly into the print head.

Use a syringe with a flexible tube on the tip of the syringe to apply 1 ml cleaning fluid into the

cone inside the carriage. Gently press the plunger to apply the head cleaning fluid and hold the

syringe for a few seconds before pressing the plunger again. Do this gently to avoid damage to

the seals between each color. Assuming you are using Epson cartridges, install the cartridges

after the cleaning fluid is applied and let the printer idle for 24 hours

before connecting the

power cord to do nozzle checks

Attention: The power cord must be unplugged right after the cartridge carriage is moved to the

neutral position ( This is where you normally exchange the cartridges ). Never use force open a

clog, if you feel resistance from the plunger when applying the cleaning fluid, release the

syringe for a couple of seconds

before applying the cleaning fluid again.

Tips: Fit a flexible tube or straw on the cone

inside the cartridge carriage

, put a few drops of

head cleaning fluid into the

flexible tube or straw, allow a 6 hour wait before installing the

cartridges.

This method uses gravity to feed the cleaning fluid into the print head. This is safer

than using the syringe to apply the cleaning fluid.

Do not remove the flexible tube

/straw once it

is fitted to the cone

prevent air bubbles introduced when removing and installing the syringe.

Use a set of known

good Epson cartridges or refillable cartridges/cleaning

cartridges

for printing

nozzle check

patterns.

Cleaning fluid: Our special head cleaning fluid is formulated to clean the print head without

causing damage. Warm distilled water could be used. Windex will work but it is less effective in

cleaning pigment ink clog. In addition, Windex has a lower viscosity and it will drip.

This means

Windex will not stay inside the print head for long before it leaks out from the nozzles.

Rubbing

alcohol should be not used or only used as your last resort because alcohol could damage the

print head.

Be sure the cleaning fluid is applied very slowly.

The goal is to use the cleaning

fluid to loosen the dry ink inside the print head.

Give it a full one minute to apply the 1 ml

cleaning fluid. This will minimize possible damage from pressure build up while applying the

cleaning fluid.

Potential issues : E

xcessive cleaning fluid applied

to the print head will

leak out

and if the

cartridge carriage is anywhere close to the paper sensor, the cleaning fluid could short out the

paper sensor, causing a paper feed malfunction which will require a trip to the service center.

You might want to place a piece of water resistant paper below the carriage to catch spills.

Know your risks Caution: Excess cleaning fluid from cleaning could cause a paper sensor malfunction causing paper not to feed properly. Stop printing and move the carriage to wipe off cleaning fluid on the paper track.

pecial head cleaning fluid formulated to clean the print head

safely. Never force the cleaning fluid into the print head. Use

no more than 1 ml cleaning fluid, inject the cleaning fluid very

slowly into the cone ( look carefully you will see tiny holes on the

cone that feeds ink into the print head )

Know your risks

Caution: Excess cleaning fluid from cleaning could cause a
paper sensor malfunction causing paper not to feed properly.
Stop printing and move the carriage to wipe off cleaning fluid on
the paper track.

Know your risks

Caution:

xcess cleaning fluid could cause a

paper sensor

malfunction.

The printer will not feed paper if the paper sensor

is shorted. Move the carriage towards the park pad manually

before applying the cleaning fluid to minimize the excess

cleaning fluid that might end up on the paper track and the

paper sensor.

ipe off

the

cleaning fluid on

the paper track

promptly if cleaning fluid accidentally spilled on the paper track.