Epson 4000 Purging Pipes.

So, my new ink arrived today - lets get this printer working...

After scouring the area for a small funnel (none came with my ink) I arrived home with a small funnel kindly donated by a shop owner down the road, and some syringes from the Pharmacy..

I cannot get the cleaning fluid to pump through the pipes, I have even had each pipe off and sucked the fluid through manually - ok, the fluid dropped back down the pipe before I could get it tightened to the top of the damper but at least I know there is no blockage.

I am thinking that the Ink Pump may not be working, it MUST be purged as I have sucked up ink through all channels.

The 'Init Fill' doesn't work so at the moment I am stuck.

Anyone have any ideas?

Had you had the ink flowing with the pump previously?

Ink was flowing before the old carts ran out.

I have had the head apart many times today - forced cleaning fluid through each ink channel and we get a nice fine spray from each channel now - I have primed the new Dampers, pulled a lot through them also with a rubber tube (and vacuum from the Mk1 Mouth).

I have performed cleaning routines - KK1, KK2 and KK3 - I am currently trying to get it to clean the head and dump the ink but nothing is moving in the pipes at all:(

I'm on a course all day tomorrow which is going to be frustrating as all I will be thinking about is this printer :(

The Ink is 'Pushed' through the pipes I assume? well, I see no other way of doing it.. It seems like the pump has gone if that is the case.

Did you prime the carts?
Have you removed the smaller of the two rubber bungs on the refill carts?

I did Prime the carts yes - individual syringe for each cart but I didnt remove the small bung - I bet thats it....doh..

If the bung is still in, then no air can get into the cart to replace the ink sucked into the printer

That did seem like the most likely solution, going by the symptoms.

I am gettting a little from One channel now with a nozzle check but something else is still wrong as the cleaning routines and the 'Init Fill' (Which I am running now) is not moving the contents of the pipes at all.

At least I can see a trace of something with a nozzle check now at least.

Reprime the carts

I think the seal has gone in the ink cap - going to take the ump assy out tomorrow.

Am I able to buy a new seal?

I have everything apart now, I can see everything I need.

There is no seal between the cap and the head when the head is docked - I can suck the same amount when the head is docked and when it is not.. also when the head is docked I am able to push the cap up toward the head with a screwdriver which does create a seal - so I have found the problem.

On the head (I am working out if I can change the height of the capping station or lower the head) there are Two adjusters either side of the head body.. From the front - the adjuster on the LEFT is connected to a bar and could very well be a height adjuster ! I cant find this info anywhere so does anyone here know what these adjusters are?

Ok, Those Two levers I talk about above are 'Slant' adjustment - not what I need.

When turning on the printer it goes through some checks.. The head moves up and down - can I adjust the head height when at the capping station ? so, in effect lowering the head onto the seal a little more? That may well solve my problem.

no idea I'm afraid - you've gone much deeper than I've ever needed to, I'd have sold it by now and got another - I'm impressed with your determination.

ok, I have spent a few hours on this again.

I thought I found the problem, the capping station was supposed to be below a piece of plastic rather than above.. sorted that, cleaned the capping station too and oiled it - took it right apart and now its silky smooth.

Anyway, I'm sure its the 'Cap Top' that's at fault so I bought another from Ear.

So, it should be here on the 27th so we will see.
I have to admit, if this doesnt solve it I may have to give up on this :(

Be good for you to see if there's any printer repair people near you who could fix it (but also let you watch at same time, so you can learn for yourself)

I found something in an eBay listing that made me look at this printer again - I just replaced the Ink Cap and there is a listing that walks you through how to replace it (its very simple)... anyway - it speaks of an 'Adjustment' you must make after replacing these parts.

The only thing I have found is the adjustment must be made in the "Epson Adjustment Wizard: which I cant find !

Would somebody be good enough to upload a version of this for me to download ? send link in PM ??

Nik,

I can't vouch for this, and can't guarantee it's what you are looking for, but http://www.2manuals.com/product_info...roducts_id=914 might be what it is. From what I've read online, these programmes can be difficult to come by for free.

Yes, I found that but someone will have it.

The problem is, I cant get a good seal between my ink cap and the head - I can make the machine 'Init Fill' and no ink will be drawn through until I push the Ink CAp up with a screwdriver and it will form a seal and draw ink properly - this will work until the head moves off of the Cap again so not reliable.

I am thinking I need to find a stronger ink cap spring OR find a way to raise the cap OR lower the head in its parked position..

frustrating to say the least - I am staring at £500 worth of ink everyday... :(

So I worked out how to make a good seal at the Ink Cap - thats all done (everything is adjusted as close as I can get it, using feeler gauges) and ink is flowing but here's the thing.

I dont trust this printer enough to put my new inks in it - as soon as I break the seals on my new bottles I will not be able to sell them (That's what I am considering - cutting my losses) - I just cannot get a clean nozzle check.

I have had the head out completely a few times and pushed cleaning fluid, and then Thinners through it until I saw a perfect jet from each colour Chanel but when its all together again I just cannot get clean nozzle check blocks of colour - the missing areas seem to move about ! Nothing is consistent.

So, One last throw of the dice - Im after a 4800 thats just up the road from me and if I get that I will try the head from that.

If that doesn't work I will have for sale 8 colours of InkTec Ink (Liter Bottles) for £500 inc delivery.

Nik, are you using refillable cartridges with this? If so, there was a suggestion by Paul I think (on another thread about Brother printers), that suggested leaving the rubber bungs out of the carts to help improve airflow to push ink through the system. This might be totally irrelevant to your problem, but be worth a try maybe, if you haven't done so already.

I did have the small bungs in to start with but Tim told me to take them so which is how it has been since :( Thanks for saying so though.

I know every inch of this printer inside out now.

Sorry to hear you've already tried it. Don't really think I've anything else to offer, but will certainly keep an eye on the thread, to see do you get sorted.

If there the system isn't completely sealed between the ink and head, then there won't be a good enough flow/pressure (not sure of correct terminology) to keep the head/dampers supplied with enough ink, giving a patchy nozzle check - I've seen this happen when dampers have gone, and when carts aren't primed properly.

I know this is a old thread but i am really interesred ..Nick did u sort it out at the end ??..i was stugling with 7600 ..head was showing smooth jet streams but didint give me any prints..at the end it was all to do with my ink carts ..sold it on ebay as faulty but installed the originl ink carts(empty tho) as its easy for the delivery ..person who bought it done a nozzel check in front of me and this bloody printer printed a perfect nozzel check ..lol..how sad.....So This could be the same for urs .....!!

No - never sorted it.

I ended up dumping the printer - selling the ink at half price and getting out of the business.