Print not good: Epson 3880

[BradSmith]

I think so; not to worry - just monitor its performance and you'll soon understand how it behaves in your environment. The worst that can happen is that you'll need to run one print of all the colours at sufficient intervals to keep the system moistened.

Mark,
Do you think a nozzle check is sufficient "exercise", or would you make a small print?
Brad

[Mark D Segal]

Needs a print that sends ink through all the channels. Nozzle checks use a minuscule amount of ink - not sufficient.

[LGeb]

The  nozzle check next morning showed every color to be perfect, except one. The bad one? The PK (gloss black) cartridge showed absolutely nothing! Yet the Status monitor said that that cartridge was at least two thirds full (although I had noticed that it felt awfully light when I took it out to shake it.) So I put in a new PK cartridge and everything was fine.

We often read complaints about Epson claiming that a cartridge is empty when it still has ink in it. But this is the first time I've heard of Epson's Status Monitor claiming that a cartridge had more ink that was really there.

Anyway, my issue is fixed, I'm happy to say. I'm glad that I have the habit of keeping either one or two spare cartridges of each color at all times.

Most likely you need to replace your ink supply. I had the same issue with an empty black cartridge. In addition to letting all the ink drain into the waste tank, it also dripped on the prints. Switching to MK seemed to work. I ordered a new ink supply from China and spent a few hours installing it and the printer is good as new. Apparently the dampers go bad as well as the ink switching mechanism. All that is replaced with the new ink supply. It will run you about $140.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I'll keep that in mind in case replacing the PK cartridge alone doesn't fix the problem. So far it is behaving nicely.

[howardm]

were you required to use that special Epson software to 'reinitialize' the ink system?

[LGeb]

I did not use special software after replacing the ink supply. Just the Power Clean option in the printer menu. I think it took two or three cycles.

[IanBarber]

I had this issue of the ink switch sticking and this is how I fixed it on my R3880


http://www.ianbarberphotography.co.uk/epson-r3880-ink-system-repair/

[David Good]

Well, it happened to me, my 3880 had been printing flawlessly for about 5 years until yesterday when I switched from MK to PK inks. The photo black cartridge was bone dry (the monitor showed @ 4/5 full) even though it was the last one replaced and was only used for a dozen or so prints. I installed a new cart and ran a clean/nozzle check that revealed only a small faint line for PK. 

Since I print through Qimage Ultimate I ran it's Unclog Pattern utility whereby the user can select only the ink(s) they want to unclog. That did the trick, I am now back to printing. I will however keep an eye on the it ( both monitor and physically inspect) to see if it drains again. Thanks to this thread I knew where to look first.

Dave