Hello Everyone. I have just purchased a Kiosk II about 2 weeks ago. When I unpacked and setup I noticed that the ink wasn't completely flushed through the black line, so I tried flushing it out myself. The cleaning solution went through all lines fine BUT the black. It's not pinched & the dampers were cleaned. The tech guy said I might need a new print head but the previous owners said everything worked. I just spent a lot of money & don't want to have to spend 300 more. Any ideas on whats going on here???? Any help would but greatly appreciated!
welcome to the forum & good luck to you. i read a post earlier from someone that just purchased a similar unit. try using the search button located @ the top left of the page. it was about 2 or 3 hours ago. i see you have model II....i think they had a III. if there is such a thing. good luck to you. i'm sure another member from the forum will chime in w/some useful info soon. sorry, i don't know anything about this unit.
Whenever buying a used direct to garment printer you should calculate in the cost of ALL ink related components before making an offer. By all ink related components I mean - printhead, dampers, capping station, wiper, pump assembly and ink harness (if the machine has a bulk ink system, figure on replacing that as well). Also, generally, don't figure in the value of any ink that is included unless the bottles are unopened and proof of purchase date is included. Lastly, verify that the software included with the machine (RIP) is included (dongle incl. if applicable) and transferable.
Don is correct. When you are buying a printer as is there are certain parts on there that you are almost sure going to need to replace. From your description it does sound like you may need a new print head. I would first do a nozzle check to make sure that the black is not printing. You should also replace the capping assembly (capping station, pump, wipers). It is a wear part and should be changed out at least once a year. A new bulk ink system is also a very good idea.
Unless you get to see the printer actually printing and can pick it up right then - you should assume that you will need to replace the printhead on a used direct to garment printer purchased from someone other than a distributor who is offering a warranty on the machine.
You say that the black is not flowing through the line, and that there was still ink in the line. If you remove the line from the damper on the top of the printhead, get a syringe and see if you can pull the ink through the line with that. If it does not move with pulling with a syringe, you could have a line that has dried ink in it, if that is the case you should probably replace the line. That is the first thing to figure out, is the ink able to move through the line. If the ink does move through the line, then check the white damper on top of the printhead. See if you can pull ink through the damper. If not replace it, is so move onto the printhead.
If the line and the damper is moving ink, then most likely it is your black nozzles on your printhead that are clogged. If this is the case and there is no black ink moving through, it might not be able to be unclogged but you can try. First try the above things and report back on that.
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Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee www.brightlittlebeginnings.com
You say that the black is not flowing through the line, and that there was still ink in the line. If you remove the line from the damper on the top of the printhead, get a syringe and see if you can pull the ink through the line with that. If it does not move with pulling with a syringe, you could have a line that has dried ink in it, if that is the case you should probably replace the line. That is the first thing to figure out, is the ink able to move through the line. If the ink does move through the line, then check the white damper on top of the printhead. See if you can pull ink through the damper. If not replace it, is so move onto the printhead.
If the line and the damper is moving ink, then most likely it is your black nozzles on your printhead that are clogged. If this is the case and there is no black ink moving through, it might not be able to be unclogged but you can try. First try the above things and report back on that.
Thanks to all for your help.
Sunnydayz, We tried moving cleaning solution through the line with a syringe and thats fine (no dried ink). We have also checked every damper moving cleaning solution threw all of them , they are all fine. We also removed the print head & cleaned and unclogged the ink residue from around the nozzles, and it's still not moving pumping solution threw that line.
what would be your next suggestion, thanks again!
Since you already have the printhead out, the next best thing would be to try soaking it overnight in cleaning solution. Now make sure to not get any fluid near the ribbon connections of the printhead. The easiest way to do this is to get a shallow dish and put about one quarter of an inch of cleaning solution in the dish and set the printhead face down in the fluid. Make sure to be very careful of getting any fluid on anything other then the face of the printhead. Once you soak it over night, use a syringe in the morning and connect it to the black nozzle on top of the printhead, and try to pull the fluid backwards up through the top nozzle with the syringe. Usually it will unclog easier from back flushing (pulling the fluid up through the printhead) then trying to push it though, as there is probably buildup inside the printhead, and trying to push it through could be difficult.
If the soaking works and you are able to pull fluid through the printhead, then before you put it back in the machine, make sure it is super dry, with no moisture. A good way of doing this is buying a can of canned air and blowing it out very thoroughly to make sure there is no moisture. The reason I am giving so much caution to be careful of the moisture is that if there is any at all, and you plug in your ribbon cables, you can fry your main board in the machine. It might not be a bad idea also to let the printhead sit for a day before after blowing it out before you put it back in. Just to be sure
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Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee www.brightlittlebeginnings.com
I spoke with my brother who has been working on this problem mostly on his own. He said has already tried this too & still nothing. So at this point I'm thinking the printhead is the problem. AN alternative to buying a new printhead would be to redirect one of the white containers to black. I beleive he has another thread going on this subject right now. Thanks again yall! Go Saints!
this is the brother, i called tech support and got the printer printing, i customized the ink as it is currently setup, K=i don't have anything there, i have the cap pinched off LK=K and everything else is where it is supposed to be. just printed several test prints and no black ink is printing. Now what
Unfortunately you will still probably have to put in a new print head to ultimately fix your problem. I have seen others put in a lot of time trying to fashion band aid fixes to similar head problems, only in the end to wind up changing the print head anyway.
new owner of kiosk II has issue 
