Epson Printer Head Clogged. Need advice on quick fix please?

[mysticalvibes]

Hi Folks, I'm in big trouble. I've a job that needs done for tomorrow using subliflock but every time I print my image is badly distorted due to what I believe is clogged print heads. I've tried using the head cleaning option 4 or 6 times but its having effect that I can see. Can anyone point me in the direction as to how I can get this unclogged. I know I can buy a cleaning kit with uses a syringe and cleaning fluid but I haven't time for it to arrive. Once again any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Davy

[Scotty@BMS]

What sort of nozzle check are you getting?

[mysticalvibes]

Hi Scotty, All colours are showing banding / white lines through them. Their so bad that when the software asks which is best its impossible to tell!

[bms]

We have an FAQ on this matter at:
http://www.printerowners.co.uk/faq/12/1 ... vanced.htm

The 3rd one up from the bottom may help:
My print quality on my Epson printer has deteriorated and I cannot get a good nozzle check pattern despite many head cleans...

[mysticalvibes]

Hi Martin, Had a go priming the system using a syringe as instructed. I was able to get ink through the rubber plugs in the cartridges no problem using a syringe. I think the problem is blocked heads, the nozzle checks now resemble the common banding characteristics I've seen over the years with ink jet printers. It looks like I either attempt to clean them myself using a head cleaning kit, send it to Epson, or buy a new printer (would like a nice new A3). Ah the joys of the printing business. Imagine a day if everything just worked perfect, we should be so lucky lol.

Davy

[JSR]

It's probably the more common issue of air trapped in the printhead than a physical "clog" of some kind.

or buy a new printer (would like a nice new A3). Ah the joys of the printing business. Imagine a day if everything just worked perfect, we should be so lucky lol.

I believe there are typically less examples of air trapped in the printhead (which may appear to be a blocked nozzle) when using printers that have their ink cartridges separated from the printhead (because there's less opportunity for the printhead to be starved of ink). Printers such as Ricoh and Brother do this. Epson, unfortunately, still tend to have their cartridges perched on top of the printhead which is more prone to the problem.

If you do tend to have this kind of issue with Epson printers (not everyone does), then you may want to look at the alternatives if you decide to replace it.

[bms]

Hi Martin, Had a go priming the system using a syringe as instructed. I was able to get ink through the rubber plugs in the cartridges no problem using a syringe. I think the problem is blocked heads, the nozzle checks now resemble the common banding characteristics I've seen over the years with ink jet printers. It looks like I either attempt to clean them myself using a head cleaning kit, send it to Epson, or buy a new printer (would like a nice new A3). Ah the joys of the printing business. Imagine a day if everything just worked perfect, we should be so lucky lol.

Davy

...what was the print like with the genuine cartridges installed? This will point to the printer if it still won't print or the ink flow system if the genuine carts print fine .

[pisquee]

What model printer are you using?
Are you using refillable carts for your sublimation ink, or a CISS?

[personalised_sublimation]

i had the same problem with my Epson i tried allsorts to sort it, finally sorted it with surgical spirits from the chemist pumped it through the nozzles and socked the head.

[mysticalvibes]

Thanks for all your advice. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all. I've had to order a set of new original cartridges to test the printer. Things went from bad to worse. At the end up just before I put the original cartridges back in, my test pages were coming out completely blank! Now when I do a nozzle check with the original cartridges im getting a few broken lines in 2 of the 4 colours. It is however much much better than when the sublimation inks were hooked up. Perhaps my original idea that the heads were badly blocked was wrong. The printer is an Epson B40W fitted with a sawgrass cis system.

Don't really know where to go from here now it seems its the ink system that's faulty. Could be a costly fix

Davy