SS cleaning mode on the Epson 4900

[cerett]

Mention is made of a "super sonic" cleaning mode accessible through the maintenance menu on the Epson 4900. However, I am unable to locate it. Any idea how to access it? Thank you.

[Mark D Segal]

Where is this "mention made" for an Epson 4900? I am unaware "supersonic cleaning" exists for this model, and I own one. There is "Clean" and "Clean Powerful" in the maintenance menu on the printer. What is your problem and what have you done so far to resolve it?

[cerett]

Actually, the manual mentions something about a "super strong" cleaning cycle while in maintenance mode but never states how to get there. Nothing like that shows up as an option when I go to maintenance mode. The super sonic cleaning mode has been mentioned at various times when I've searched "clog nozzles," but seems to require a special windows only program. My problem is some missing lines on my nozzles check. I'm currently trying the windex cure but wasting a lot of ink and getting very frustrated with the whole problem.The images I'm getting seem okay (no banding), but it really bothers me to have any broken lines on the nozzle check. I may wind up dumping the printer and moving on.

[Mark D Segal]

Clean>Powerful is what's available for the 4900. Which nozzles are missing? If only a few, confine the cleaning to the bespoke "pairs". Create a print with only those colours. Run the print between each cleaning cycle until the check pattern becomes clear. If you do successive cleanings without running prints in-between, you run the risk of making the problem worse. If after doing this clean-print-clean-print cycle (using Clean>Powerful) 5 or 6 times, the nozzle check pattern is still showing gaps, you will need a technician. But this approach may fix it.

[cerett]

Thanks Mark, I'll give it a try. The lines are slightly broken at the top and bottom of VM, PK, Y, VLM and LC I am not very optimistic. Calling a technician is outrageously expensive and most likely will result in recommending a new head. Great printer, but the clogged nozzles issues have plagued everyone.

[Mark D Segal]

"Slightly broken at top and bottom" gives grounds for optimism - it does NOT sound hopeless. Let us know how it goes. It will take time and patience but you may recover them all - let's hope. BTW, the extent of this "plague" is highly variable between users depending mainly on two things: (1) the humidity in the room (recommended at least 40%) and the amount you use the printer (recommended: several prints at intervals no longer than three days apart). Yes, it's baby-sitting and I need to do it too, but the reward is unbeatable output.

[cerett]

Thanks again. I will give you a follow-up.

[Wayne Fox]

Actually, the manual mentions something about a "super strong" cleaning cycle while in maintenance mode but never states how to get there. Nothing like that shows up as an option when I go to maintenance mode. The super sonic cleaning mode has been mentioned at various times when I've searched "clog nozzles," but seems to require a special windows only program. My problem is some missing lines on my nozzles check. I'm currently trying the windex cure but wasting a lot of ink and getting very frustrated with the whole problem.The images I'm getting seem okay (no banding), but it really bothers me to have any broken lines on the nozzle check. I may wind up dumping the printer and moving on.

Page 131 of the Epson 4900 manual. 

[Mark D Segal]

Page 131 of the Epson 4900 manual. 

Interesting - I missed that line - I suppose because I never needed to look beyond several replications of Clean>Powerful to get the printer back. I assume you would recommend "super powerful" only as a last resort for self-service?

[cerett]

Problem is that when you go to the maintenance menu, it does not seem offer that option. Am I missing something?

[Mark D Segal]

I don't think so.

All this sent me scurrying back to the manual, and it's very interesting. Wayne is right that on page 131 it refers to a super strong cleaning cycle. But then when you read the details of using Maintenance Mode on page 132, there is no mention of any super strong cleaning cycle. So if you've gone into maintenance mode and not found it in the list, that would cohere with page 132 but not page 131. :-). I think you should just try what I suggested previously and see whether it works.