Hi All
So I got a new print head and all was working ok until today. Now no red ink again. Called HP and they are sending a printhead under warranty for the head. He said it may be blocked ink tube. If that is so is it possible to sort.
Red cartridge itself not very old? Blocked tubes is uncommon but with the least used ink like the red it would be the tube most prone to it.
I think so. Attached a picture of an old head with the ink connector part. It is possible to take that connector off with a screwdriver. Put the screwdriver between the main part and the connector, there is a rectangular hole, turn the screwdriver that the blade pushes underneath the connector, it should pop off. There will be small SS balls too coming out. Attach a tube or tubes to the connector like done with an old Glassex bottle at the front of the image. I glued Luer connectors in the connector for that and can switch the tube from one channel to the other. You might be able to do it with other tube diameters and a syringe. I found this more convenient and did not use it on a Z model but on an Officejet that has the same connection method for the heads, switched it over to a quad inkset.
Make sure that the red cart has enough ink in it, shake it thoroughly before you start. Select head exchange on the printer. Pull the power plug when the lid is open. Take the red head out. Insert the connector instead and suck the red channel only by pumping. Either use a cloth or a glass for the wasted red ink. Hard to tell where the tube might be blocked but I guess the action will tell enough whether there is flow again. Building up a vacuum in the beginning is a sign the tube was blocked.
It could be done with a cleaning fluid too but that takes more time and the tube has to be really emptied of any fluid again and red ink inserted again and there still may be some color changes when fluid gets mixed in the red ink.
Yes, after that process and printing again that cart may be empty before the printer counted it to empty but the HP printers tend to signal empty too when the cart pump does not deliver enough anymore. Anyway an empty cart weighs 50 gram so you can check it that way too.
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst
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