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Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 18:21
by Lorcan
My 4400 had a blocked yellow nozzle, so I tried a regular clean, followed by 3 power cleans (at great cost in ink grrr...). No change, so I found a "supersonic clean", care of Vicky at Conde on Youtube. Tried that, now 6 of the 8 heads are blocked. Great. I've tried everything I can think of since, including:

Regular Cleans
Powercleans
KK0, KK1, KK2 and KK3 cleans
Soaking paper towel in water, Mr Muscle, Isopropanol and leaving it under the print head for various periods of time from 10 mins up to 36 hours
Filling spare cartridges with isopropanol and running power cleans to flush the system through completely
Pushing ink and/or isopropanol through the tubes with a syringe
Using a kit from Printheadhospital.co.uk
Phoning Epson (who won't touch it as it has Artainium ink in)
Praying to various non-existent deities.

Anyone got any other suggestions before I put it on ebay for parts? (apart from DON'T run a supersonic clean, I already know that).

I've resorted to buying another printer as I have orders piling up so it's not time-critical any more, but I'd like to find a solution as it's an expensive printer and I've been very happy with it to date. A DIY solution would be ideal, but I'd be prepared to send the printer away if necessary (although I don't want or need to spend hundreds on it).

Any and all suggestions welcome :)

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 18:59
by Paul
I used ZAP of ebay. as you said... cleaned 1 nozzle and after cleaning 4 blocked. lol. i found out it need to stay switched on over night and all nozles was perfect again :)

I remember Stich Up had a machine that you conect to your heads and it flash it for you. but dont remember to muc. worth to give him a shout!

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 19:17
by Lorcan
Ok I'll try another overnight soak, switched on this time. Thanks :)

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 19:24
by Paul
no! :) do not switch on :P
when you soak it through the heads with cartridges. after finish live it on over night. doone more clean on the morning and may be ok. worked on my printer.

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 20:41
by Lorcan
Sorry I don't understand. Take me through the steps please.

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 21:13
by Paul
flash your printer head with ZAP first http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZAP-Inkjet-pr ... 3f063c435d
then leave it for couple of hours. then do the head clean and live it switched on over night.

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 21:37
by Justin
Paul;29957 wrote:no! :) do not switch on :P
when you soak it through the heads with cartridges. after finish live it on over night. doone more clean on the morning and may be ok. worked on my printer.
Paul, I think there may be a bit of confusion with your instructions here. You firstly say not to switch on but then go on to say leave on overnight? Do you mean leave off, soak heads and then switch on in the morning and do a head clean?

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 04 Sep 2011, 21:44
by Paul
lol. sorry! its all my fault :redface:
I said switched on but only when soaking is over. so when you take dirty towel from under your heads switch your printer on and leve it overnight. then try nozzle check on the morrning.

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 05 Sep 2011, 04:27
by busybusybee
I've had a similar issue, i had a blocked head then all of a sudden it unblocked!! After using nearly all the original cart's ink in head cleans!! Buy a spare printer as if you have order's piling up downtime is not what you need, i will always have a spare now as that way if the main printer goes wrong i have a back up!

Re: Epson Stylus Pro 4400 printead blocked

Posted: 05 Sep 2011, 07:58
by Lorcan
Soaked it for 2 hours then removed towel and left it switched on overnight. No change, I've ordered a ZAP kit so will see if that helps.