R200 black ink not printing - nozzle problem?

[Alzarius]

I've been using generic cartridges from megatoners and not had a problem before. I recently replaced my black cartridge, but I can't print any black text at all (nothing comes out but cartridge detected is full). I tried another new cartridge and the same problem occurs (no black, but other colors print fine). So I did a nozzle check, and the black ink prints but has a lot of gaps in it so I figured the print heads need cleaning. I've done 4 cycles of head cleaning and black text now prints but has white lines through it (so it's still clogged?). I know head cleaning wastes a lot of ink, so should I keep doing this continuously until it unclogs the head? I've done 4 cycles, and the print levels went down a notch.

I also found this thread: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=237435&highlight=epson+cis with a similar problem. I'd like to take the print heads out to clean or run water over them, but how do I do this (don't know how to take it out).

THanks for your help. I just want this damn printer to work again.

[diablo2003]

I just recently bought some cartridges from megatoners. I too have experienced problems with some of the cartridges saying it is full, but the print test patten and cleaning results were negative for ink.

Same occurred with a friend that just bought some of their ink.....

I noticed that they changed the 'brand'. I called and e-mailed to megatoners. I have not received any response. I was able to 'correct' the problem by replacing the ink cartridge.

Good luck!

[Fandim]

This happened to me as well....to several of the carts I ordered (From m-toners)... Ended up wasting a full set nearly doign print patterns, trying to clean, etc...manually messing with the cartridges and such...nothing helped.

What a waste.

[Alzarius]

hmmmm..... maybe I should try ordering generics from another dealer first before doing surgery on my printer. Both black cartridges from megatoners had the problem.... so I wasn't sure if it's the cartridge or the printer, and I wasn't going to get the genuine Epson black ink for $18 a pop to verify.

[garryheather]

If you're wasting ink on cheap cartridges, why not buy a proper Epson one to run through it ?

You may find the genuine ink has a solvent base that may help disolve the crud that would appear to have settled in the head. I wouldn't suggest trying to remove the head to flush it out, the ink channels on Epson's inkjet technology are tiny and rely on very fine pressure changes to expell the ink - running it under the tap or something would probably bugger it up big time...

[jimbucc]

You can buy original EPSON ink from Buy.com for a good price - a little more than the compatible toners. http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10361356&loc=101&sp=1.
Since my printer is new I don't want to mess with substitute inks.

Jim

[Idle]

Since you're getting 'some' ink through, it may be a head problem rather than the cartridge.

How long did you leave the black head open while changing the cartridge? -- some ink may have dried in it.

Rather than try water --- which doesn't always remove dried ink -- try an ammonia-based glass cleaner (blue Windex or something like that.)

Move the heads to the cartridge change position and, using a hypodermic or an eyedropper, place just a little (two or three drops) on the parking pad for the offending cartridge (DO NOT FLOOD IT!)

Move the heads back to the park position and leave it a while (overnight is good.)

Most times this works -- if it doesn't, it sometimes helps to remove the cartridge and drop a small amount of glass cleaner down the ink feed tube, then put the cartridge back, park it, leave it stand a while, then run a head clean.

Note it MUST be an ammonia-based cleaner -- others are not only futile, they may damage your printer.

I've been using this method for over a decade.

BTW, the free SSC service utility (google for sscserve.exe) allows you to run a black-only head clean, among other things.

Hope all this helps.

[Alzarius]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm away from my printer for a while, but will post my results when I see it again.