[KristineH]

I switched to Bulk ink for CMY and I have NO INK in my lines close to the joints that bring the ink to the dampers.

What did I do to my baby?!?!

AA is closed for the weekend and I'm freaking out - I need to print tomorrow but don't want to leave my printer like this overnight - I've read that air going through the printhead, even just for autocleans can burn it out and I've already replaced it once!!!

Please help!!

 

[23spiderman]

autocleans just use the pump to PULL ink through the head. the head doesn't actually fire, so you shouldn't be at risk of burning the head. however, pulling air through could dry ink inside the head, and that's not good either. i would pull ink through the dampers with your syringe so that they are primed. you could waterfall your head as well unless you know it's free of any clogs. also, ensure that the small holes in the bulk carts are open so that air can move into the cart as the ink leaves.

the use of bulk carts should have no adverse affect to ink moving through your printer. at the least, you could just syringe ink back into your bagged carts if you think something is wrong with your bulk carts.

 

[KristineH]

Thanks. I appreciate the help. I already threw out the bags so that won't be an option. Lol

 

[EricDeem]

You probably need to prime the dampers. Do you know how to do this? If you can replace the dampers then priming them is even easier. Simply take the 3 small screws out of the bottom of the print head, separate it from the dampers and use a syringe and pull ink thru the damper on each channel. Shoot me a PM if you need more help and I will give you my cell #.

 

[twistinthewick]

I haven't been on lately due to not knowing which way to turn with the
new storefront, but that is a good thing. I just want to tell you Sean and Eric it is soo nice to see how you are always there to help a family member in need.
Kristen you are in good hands.

 

[Teez310]

I don't even prime and bust an f3 and call it a day. Sometimes the ink needs some time to settle so if you get thin bands of printing at first, after some rest to adjust and with the autocleans it should be perfect by tomorrow.

Just remember even when you did the initial fill it was pulling through the printhead. It will be just fine.

 

[EricDeem]

I don't even prime and bust an f3 and call it a day. Sometimes the ink needs some time to settle so if you get thin bands of printing at first, after some rest to adjust and with the autocleans it should be perfect by tomorrow.

Just remember even when you did the initial fill it was pulling through the printhead. It will be just fine.

Sometimes a vapor lock is hard to get past without using a syringe. If you have the time it usually will work itself out but otherwise I would just prime the dampers, do a simple clean and call it a day. I can prime the dampers in under 10 minutes usually.

 

[KristineH]

Thanks everyone!! I truly appreciate the help. I pulled the ink through the dampers to get the air bubbles out then just squirted the ink back into the bulk cartridges. I'll check tomorrow to see if that's fixed my problem and that I didn't do something else with the maintenance and repairs I did last week and earlier this week!

 

[treefox2118]

Please post an update for the archives!

 

[KristineH]

So I realized my issue was that I didn't pull any ink through the cartridges before putting them into the printer - DUH!!! Lots of air between the ink and where it gets pulled from the cartridge.

I did another nozzle check and had some clogs but nothing a good clean and power clean shouldn't fix.

Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[g.lupo]

Good to hear

 

[Teez310]

So I realized my issue was that I didn't pull any ink through the cartridges before putting them into the printer - DUH!!! Lots of air between the ink and where it gets pulled from the cartridge.

I did another nozzle check and had some clogs but nothing a good clean and power clean shouldn't fix.

Thanks for all the help!!!

Not that you need to as I cant remember the last time I took out the cmyk bulk cartridge, but if you ever decide to shake those carts make sure you dont tip too much to the back side to where the hole to the nozzle will be exposed. Ink will escape that little chamber and will create little air gaps on the next cleaning or print. Eventually why I switched bulk white back to syringing into the bags.

As far as the vapor lock, Im a mess with the syringe and have spilled white ink when priming. I rather do 2 f2s since Im so messy. Plus to add on to my clumsiness I dont know my strength sometimes and have made the nozzle rubber on the dampers a bit wider from putting in the syringe too deep. I would then notice those dampers with wider openings not having solid channels from possible air leak. Kind of my easy judgement on if a damper will be defective. Hasnt let me down yet.

 

[Stitch-Up]

I much prefer to use bulk but always refill the bags - don't throw them away. Using the bags allows you to use bulk ink but still keeps the inks sealed while in the printer.

 

[KristineH]

John, I do that with the white just not the color. Should have thought of that! I still have my black ink in the bag, I have about 2/3 left so I will refill the bag there.