Hey folks,
I hoped I would never have to write about clogs again (after my experiences with an Epson 4900), but here we go again with my Epson 7900 -.-
I got it early last year, a used machine, and I have been taking care of it. I regularly cleaned the wiper (it's spotless!), I cleaned the spit pad, I cleaned the capping station... It never failed me (except the belt snapped, but I replaced it) and it made some truly brilliant prints.
After it survived a period of 6 weeks without printing (as the belt snapped last year), I didn't think much of not using it for a period of 3 weeks this year, when I was on vacation. Well.... the nozzle check was perfect before my vacation and it was blank afterwards. A light standard cleaning brought back every color, but yellow has about 1/3 to 1/4 missing. Whatever I did, yellow would not recover.
I have tried the towel method, I tried paired cleanings, about 3 or 4 power cleanings (not directly after each other but spread over several days), I tried printing purge patches, nothing helped.
And yes, I have read the infamous 7900-clog-thread about 2 times now, completely.
I am just not sure what the BEST way is to tackle the problem. I know, the head could be shot. But I want to at least
try to recover it.
So, should I:
- Remove the head and soak it in cleaning fluid? I find this risky, as it could be damaged quite easily, so if there is a chance I could get it clear without this option, I'd prefer not to remove it.
- Insert refill carts and cleaning fluid (which one?) and do some initial fills?
- Do initial fills with ink instead cleaning fluid?
- Do an SS clean? I didn't dare to touch that option yet...
- Replace the pump cap assembly and the ink selector just because, or are there any clear signs the pump/cap assembly is done?
And, while I'm having your attention
Is it possible that the head/one channel suddenly dies without ever showing any signs before? I would understand if the nozzles dropped out one by one and it would gradually get worse, but going from 100% working, never a problem, to 40% nozzles dead? Is this usual?
And, if initial fills with cleaning fluid would be the way to go... which one should I get? I heard good things about the pink piezo flush, but I could also get one liter of the infamous red Epson fluid and the clear neutralizer for the same price. Which would you recommend?
I would really really love to get this printer working again. It's the only printer that can handle my thick cotton paper with the straight paper feed, no Canon or HP can print on it.
So I'm grateful for any advice.
Thanks in advance and kind regards!