can anyone tell me why cyan head is not working please?

[Kevin Flowers]

Hi
sounds like you have an air leak, check the damper isn’t split, then the O ring under the brass nut on the pipe that feeds the damper. if no faults found with the above change the cartridge in fact if you have a cart try that first. Are you using carts, cart refill system or bulk system

Kev

[Scot J]

Yea, that’s what I kind of thought it might be (air leak). Both dampers look to be empty.

What type of thing am I looking for around the o-ring or damper? Ink leaking out?

I’m running the Hilord Hi-Load bulk ink system.

Thanks in advance!

[Kevin Flowers]

Hi
No its sucking air in, instead of drawing ink from the cart. it would normally be a case of just putting a new o ring in. You could check to see if the nut is tight but DO NOT overtighten it because you will just break the damper. How old is the bulk system because carts have a gauze in them & this can also clogg. Dont know your system so thats something you will have to check.

Kev

[Scot J]

I might just buy a new damper and replace that and the o-ring. I have never done any of this work myself but I wouldn’t imagine its terribly difficult. I suppose with the maintenance manual it shouldn’t be to difficult, no?

Also, is there any where else ink could be getting in from? The lines running to the damper look to be full (or are they not transparent?).

[Kevin Flowers]

Scot
it is do able yourself, few words of caution machine always switched off when working on it, don’t spill ink etc over any heads or circuit boards. I’m an ex engineer so find my way around a printer with no problems but its your choice if you go that route remember its an expensive piece of kit if you get it wrong. Just one last point it could be sucking air from

Rewind a minute

Just re read about both dampers empty that sounds more like to be a cart problem. Chances of two seals going on two seperate dampers is slim. I would start with the carts to see if there is a problem & then work through the system

Kev

[Scot J]

What would you suggest to check on the cartridge?

[Scot J]

So I popped out both Cyan carts and ink still drips out the back (on this bulk ink system that is normal). I checked the little brass nuts on the damper and they seem to be fine.

I did a custody wash, and ink Fill-up, but only a bit of the nozzles fired, and the dampers look to be less than 20% full.

Any help would be appreciated here 🙂

[Scot J]

I also tightened the o-rings lightly with a set of needle nose plyers, but got nothing.

Also, should I maybe un-hook the dampers and try pulling ink into the damper using a syringe? (If so, how do I take of the damper? lol)

[Scot J]

Update – I pulled out the dampers and sucked in some ink using the syringe. This went off without a hitch, but now when I re-connect it back to the printer- even after doing an Ink-Fill, I get NOTHING coming out of the cyan head.

Any suggestions?

[Mark Elvidge]

a common mistake that people make is putting too much ink in a refillable cartridge. if it is a standard, slightly bigger cart than a 220, the best ink levels are no more than 2/3 rds full and no less than 1/3 rd empty.

also check to see if the small breather hole is blocked on the front face of the cartridge.

i also run bulk ink carts on a fj400 here and i never fit the bungs in the top of the cartridges. i like to let a little air flow through, however this is water based ink.

i also wedge pieces of card under the carts to stop them moving out the printer while it is working.

[Scot J]

Thanks for the info!

My system actualy had a mini-pump inside the cart that pulls ink from an external 1L bottle.

I decided to take a shot in the dark, and take the back panel off the printer and attach the syringe to the pipe coming from the capping station (pre-pump). Sure enough, sucked ink through (took a while) and we are back in business and firing on all nozzles.

I suspect the cause was a while back when the cyan almost ran dry and it probably had a bunch of bubbles in the system that accumulated.

Thanks all for the info!