Can a P400 be repaired ?

[Paul Ozzello]

Does anyone know if these can be repaired ? I have one single nozzle that just won't clear and I may need a new head.

I converted it to piezography and none of the newer epson models are compatible (and still unsupported by QTR) so getting a new printer is not an option.

Does anyone have a rough estimate on a head replacement ?


Paul

[TonyW]

I have no idea how complex this may be or if specialist tools or knowledge required but it looks like replacements are available.
https://arizaprint.com/products/categories/epson-printhead/epson-surecolor-p400-p408-printhead-fa24000

Have you tried or considered any of the flushing products such as Piezo Flush?  I have no personal experience so not a recommendation but it may just help save some $$
https://shop.inkjetmall.com/how-to-use-piezoflush

[BrianWJH]

I'd be cautious about purchasing from an Indonesian based printer supplier, do a search and you will find that the seemingly very low prices are too good to be true, best to buy from a printer parts supplier in your country and receive the goods.

Brian.

[TonyW]

I'd be cautious about purchasing from an Indonesian based printer supplier, do a search and you will find that the seemingly very low prices are too good to be true, best to buy from a printer parts supplier in your country and receive the goods.

Brian.

I agree and do not understand how I put that link in.  One supplier in the Uk at about £600 !  But not in stock apparently

https://www.theconsumablesdepot.com/cat/Epson/products/Epson_FA24000.asp

[Ferp]

Based on my experience with Piezography and printers of this type, if it really is only one nozzle on one channel then I'd ignore it.   I doubt you'd see the effect  in a print or even in a plot of linearization, and it may eventually come good.  Certainly not worth a head replacement, which is guaranteed to be very, very expensive.

[Paul Ozzello]

I have no idea how complex this may be or if specialist tools or knowledge required but it looks like replacements are available.
https://arizaprint.com/products/categories/epson-printhead/epson-surecolor-p400-p408-printhead-fa24000

Have you tried or considered any of the flushing products such as Piezo Flush?  I have no personal experience so not a recommendation but it may just help save some $$
https://shop.inkjetmall.com/how-to-use-piezoflush

Are any of those Indonesian sites legit ?

I have piezoflush and tried manually flushing the head with the dummy cartridge. I finally got that one nozzle unclogged but now 2 new nozzles are clogged! Epson HELL.

To save on ink I'm using the Inkjetmall refillable cartridges filled with a weak MK ink solution and water...

Based on my experience with Piezography and printers of this type, if it really is only one nozzle on one channel then I'd ignore it.   I doubt you'd see the effect  in a print or even in a plot of linearization, and it may eventually come good.  Certainly not worth a head replacement, which is guaranteed to be very, very expensive.

Yeah, I should have done that, but now I have a total of 5 clogged nozzles 

[TonyW]

Are any of those Indonesian sites legit ?

TBH, I do not know as I have never ordered.  It was posted in error from a list of saved sites.

When I was looking to get my first Epson printer and being aware of the bad rep. for irreversible clogging I did some research on cost of replacing printhead.  The prices seemed to go from 1/2 to 3/4 the cost of a new printer!  I still went ahead and purchased a SC P800 and so far been happy with the fact that there has been no clogging despite lack of regular use.

Would it be worth looking for a used unit which may cost less than a new printhead and give you a set of spares in case of other failures?

I have bought printheads directly from China (AliExpress Alibaba) for an HP printer.  A fraction of the price but just as good as the original HP - bearing in mind that the HP print heads considered a consumable item.

[Ferp]

I have piezoflush and tried manually flushing the head with the dummy cartridge. I finally got that one nozzle unclogged but now 2 new nozzles are clogged! Epson HELL.
......
Yeah, I should have done that, but now I have a total of 5 clogged nozzles 

Not all gaps are clogs.  With these small cartridge printers and refillable cartridges, it's not uncommon to get some air in the lines, and that this can be a short-term artifact of cleaning the head with the dummy cart.  While anything is possible, I think it's unlikely that using the dummy cart has caused more clogs.  Let it settle.  Print a few purge patterns.  I just can't see that a head replacement is going to be an economic proposition and it's not without risk.

[Paul Ozzello]

Well after a few days of on and off rest, the nozzle checks got progressively worst. Some would clear up, then other channels would disappear. so i decided to take it apart and discovered that the Head FCC were completely corroded from a leaking ink cartridge. So bad that it looks like some pins have no metal left at all. I'll start by replacing the cables before getting a new head.

[Ferp]

Well after a few days of on and off rest, the nozzle checks got progressively worst. Some would clear up, then other channels would disappear. so i decided to take it apart and discovered that the Head FCC were completely corroded from a leaking ink cartridge. So bad that it looks like some pins have no metal left at all. I'll start by replacing the cables before getting a new head.

That's insane.  First time I've seen that.  With that bad a leak I'm surprised that there weren't other signs of it.  Whose cartridges are you using?  IJM?  Good luck with the new cable.

[TonyW]

Well after a few days of on and off rest, the nozzle checks got progressively worst. Some would clear up, then other channels would disappear. so i decided to take it apart and discovered that the Head FCC were completely corroded from a leaking ink cartridge. So bad that it looks like some pins have no metal left at all. I'll start by replacing the cables before getting a new head.

with luck you may not need a new head

[Paul Ozzello]

That's insane.  First time I've seen that.  With that bad a leak I'm surprised that there weren't other signs of it.  Whose cartridges are you using?  IJM?  Good luck with the new cable.

It was an inkjetmall one but I was having some ink flow problems because od vacuum and I tried running 2 of the carts without filler caps. BAD IDEA. But I never thought ink could be so corrosive.

[Paul Ozzello]

It was an inkjetmall one but I was having some ink flow problems because od vacuum and I tried running 2 of the carts without filler caps. BAD IDEA. But I never thought ink could be so corrosive.

I really hope. I should have a new set of ribbon cables next week. I'll keep you posted :-)