So I've been fighting with the printer - it started with banding, and I discovered the blue wasn't doing right. So I cleaned the print head as per the service tech's instructions. Went to do an ink charge, and there was ink coming out the sides of the print head. anyone have this happen? I stopped right away because I don't want to fry the print head or anything, but I'm so very frustrated.
Do you have a picture of this ink coming out of side of print head? Are you sure that one on the "O"-Rings from the dampers or the line connecting to the dampers is not missing and leaking the ink?
I checked the o-rings and they were there. I actually even replaced my blue damper including all the parts because that's what started it - a bad nozzle check on the blue. I don't have a pic - but there were all colors of ink all over the inside of the place where the capping station is, and the sides of the print head were dripping.
What would cause that, so I don't do it again? It was a fairly new print head. We follow the maintenance regimen that the company told us too, but I'm worried I'm doing something wrong.
Did you use a syringe to pull cleaning solution through the head? Sometimes if you do this with to much pressure, it can cause it to seperate. The only other thing that would cause it is just age. Those are the only two reasons I know of for delamination.
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Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee
Yes, I did use a syringe. I'm almost certain that's what did it. But I've been looking around at other threads and getting a lot of good advice on how to take care of things better. Up to this point, I've been told 'do this' and I do! Now I have a better idea of what to do and NOT to do.
Yep that is most likely what did it in then When flushing with a syringe, you want to just use gentle pressure, and if it does not break free right away, soak it longer and try again. Or back flushing is good too, where you actually pull the cleaning solution thru from the bottom of the printhead, up thru the nozzle. I do this if it doesn't immediately flush through by pushing. Most times this method works well.
__________________
Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee
Delamination can occur if fluid is forced through the printhead from the top, it is generally a last ditch thing to try. Gently back-flushing the head is a better way to try to unclog a head as it doesn't create the same pressure as pushing through the head.
So you just use the syringe on the nozzle part of the head and pull cleaner up through it?
Exactly, most clogs occur in the screen above the face of the printhead anyway and instead of trying to force the clog through the screen you will be breaking it up and sucking back away from the screen.
What cleaning solution did you use? Before you jump the gun, try and get everything cleaned back up. Check your capping station for functionality to make sure it is pulling a vacuum. I have a hard time believing that your print head has de-laminated. Not saying it isn't true, only that it's not likely unless you really stood on it with the syringe.
Yep that is most likely what did it in then When flushing with a syringe, you want to just use gentle pressure, and if it does not break free right away, soak it longer and try again. Or back flushing is good too, where you actually pull the cleaning solution thru from the bottom of the printhead, up thru the nozzle. I do this if it doesn't immediately flush through by pushing. Most times this method works well.
The way that I do it is I get a little shallow Tupperware container. One of the rectangular shaped ones, and put about 1/4 of an inch of cleaning solution in it. I then put my printhead flat in the bottom and use a syringe. I put the syringe on the nozzle and slowly pull up on the plunger. This pulls the cleaning solution through from the bottom of the printhead, through the nozzle. This works much better then pushing solution through the printhead from the nozzle down through the face. Be very careful not to get liquid in the ribbon cable connectors though. If you do make sure those connections are really dried before putting the ribbon cable back in. If you have any moisture in those connections when plugging the ribbon cable back in, you can fry your cable or your mother board. Its best just to be careful first then trying to make sure its dried later
__________________
Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee
The way that I do it is I get a little shallow Tupperware container. One of the rectangular shaped ones, and put about 1/4 of an inch of cleaning solution in it. I then put my printhead flat in the bottom and use a syringe. I put the syringe on the nozzle and slowly pull up on the plunger. This pulls the cleaning solution through from the bottom of the printhead, through the nozzle. This works much better then pushing solution through the printhead from the nozzle down through the face. Be very careful not to get liquid in the ribbon cable connectors though. If you do make sure those connections are really dried before putting the ribbon cable back in. If you have any moisture in those connections when plugging the ribbon cable back in, you can fry your cable or your mother board. Its best just to be careful first then trying to make sure its dried later
ok interesting, is it difficult to take the print head out? I have never attempted to do anything but clean around the print head edges as I was afraid to screw something up. If there is a link or step by step guide on how to get this done the right way would be very appreciative.
Ink Coming out the sides of the print head? 
Re: Ink Coming out the sides of the print head? 
When flushing with a syringe, you want to just use gentle pressure, and if it does not break free right away, soak it longer and try again. Or back flushing is good too, where you actually pull the cleaning solution thru from the bottom of the printhead, up thru the nozzle. I do this if it doesn't immediately flush through by pushing. Most times this method works well.
