Bought a Mutoh 1204 that has become a real challenge.

[Legaspi]

Hello guys!

I have just bought on eBay a Mutoh 1204 that the seller listed as in perfect working condition that never had an issue or problem with it, the problem is that either he was lying or the printer become a lemon with fedex handling, if you ask me, I would bet on the first option.

I can't give up on this printer so any help from the professionals would be extremely appreciated, you can't even imagine.

When I first turned on the printer was giving a 072 error, I found out that the solenoid wasn't working, so I taped the lock and it worked but then I got an e085 error head heat.

So I opened the unit and detached and attached again all the flat white wires, including the ones in the head, CR board, mainboard and control screen, after that, the solenoid is working and the printer does the complete initial process (wich it couldnt complete before, right before it measured the printing media it gave the 085 head heat error) it cleans itself and says ready to print.

I did a palette test print and it worked for about 10 lines and then it showed the head heat error again, I have to say that printing felt some kind of erratic, it did a line and then went back to the start point and pressed the lock with the solenoid again, I'm not sure about this one because it is a test print, maybe that's the way it is?

I have no knowledge on this printers, all I did to it was searching for information here on the forum but this is as far as I could get with the info I found.

Based on the same information it could be the mainboard, CR board, cables or the head directly but considering the behavior and the situation, what do you guys would suggest?

Thanks a lot for reading this long post haha but I did spent about 6 hours with this before opening this thread.

 

[Jackpine]

clean encoder

Sounds like you need a new head. Clean the encoder with 90% denature alcohol first.

 

[Legaspi]

Sounds like you need a new head. Clean the encoder with 90% denature alcohol first.

Thanks for your response, I'm doing it right now, the encoder is the T Fence right?

If I don't have cleaning solvents, can I clean the head with alcohol too?

I'm a total newb but not afraid of electronics, I just need some guidance lol

Thank you!

 

[Legaspi]

OK!

I have done it, I even cleaned the cables again with alcohol let them dry and installed them.

The printer worked again for 2 minutes, in the palette test the head seems ok, it did print in color in the tests and colors seem allright, but still it gives the head heat error after a while.

I feel like we are making improvements here, do you still think it's the head?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[letterman7]

New head and/or cables.

 

[Legaspi]

New head and/or cables.

Ok here is a test print, what I still find curious is that it does 2 passes and then goes back to the initial point, it presses the lock and then does another 2 passes, sometimes it does 4 or 5 passes and then goes back again.

This is as far as I could get with the palette test print before I get the e085err head heat.

Do you still think it could be cables or head? If so, I will order cables right away lol I'll leave the head as a last option because of pricing of course.

 

[letterman7]

Too many variables to really figure a reason. To me, if it's going 'home', locking, then coming back out, that almost points to a processor error or something. But the fact that the head is heating up enough to give you the 085 error points to needing a new head. There may be a work-around, I just don't know what that is.

 

[Karen-Kang]

Ok here is a test print, what I still find curious is that it does 2 passes and then goes back to the initial point, it presses the lock and then does another 2 passes, sometimes it does 4 or 5 passes and then goes back again.

This is as far as I could get with the palette test print before I get the e085err head heat.

Do you still think it could be cables or head? If so, I will order cables right away lol I'll leave the head as a last option because of pricing of course.

check the head cables firstly, should no any ink on the cable connection , should be flat no folded. under the machine power off situation check them.

 

[mark galoob]

i see you have 2 issues...

the first is you bought a printer off ebay. the second is you bought a printer off ebay...

my advise would be contact ebay and get a refund...if it truely was represented in working order, you should be able to turn it on and make it run correctly. i understand ebay has a fraud dept that handles this sort of thing.

another option is have the seller file a claim w/ the shipper. hopefully it was insured. if it was bought off ebay, the packing and shipping used were prob free boxes out of the chinese food restaurant dumpster... and it was sent usps flat rate lol.

 

[Legaspi]

check the head cables firstly, should no any ink on the cable connection , should be flat no folded. under the machine power off situation check them.

Thank you, I have checked them again and I could make a complete test print of the palette, I didn't get the error anymore, still it is going to home when it makes 2 or 5 passes at max, then goes home press the lock and prints again, thats a little weird probably still the cables?

i see you have 2 issues...

the first is you bought a printer off ebay. the second is you bought a printer off ebay...

my advise would be contact ebay and get a refund...if it truely was represented in working order, you should be able to turn it on and make it run correctly. i understand ebay has a fraud dept that handles this sort of thing.

another option is have the seller file a claim w/ the shipper. hopefully it was insured. if it was bought off ebay, the packing and shipping used were prob free boxes out of the chinese food restaurant dumpster... and it was sent usps flat rate lol.

I have never had or used a wide printer of any kind, honestly I had no idea of what I was doing when I ordered it from eBay but I soon realized what you are saying this things are a very delicate technology, I can see that now.

Unfortunately I can't do anything about it, I just gave the seller bad feedback and that's it, purchase says it's not covered by eBay warranties, I guess because it's used so I really can't give up on this printer.

 

[letterman7]

Have you run an actual file through it rather than just the palette test? Could be just in internal error with that test sending the head home and out again. I doubt it'll clear the overheat issue, but there's only one way to find out.

 

[Legaspi]

Have you run an actual file through it rather than just the palette test? Could be just in internal error with that test sending the head home and out again. I doubt it'll clear the overheat issue, but there's only one way to find out.

Thanks for your response!

The printer seems to be working now, but it still has the same problem, it does 1-5 passes (sometimes just one pass sometimes it does 5 or in between) then goes home, presses the lock and works again.

Makes no sense to me at all, maybe it is a bad encoder or it just needs some cleaning?

 

[Legaspi]

Ok it failed again, it prints for a few minutes then it gives the error.

Print quality seems perfect I think it is related to it going to home because when it is printing it does it more and more and then it gives the error.

Any thoughts? Where is the sensor of the encoder? Maybe it needs cleaning or some adjustment?