Can I switch/flip the Black (K) head cables on an XC-540

[davinciimports]

I have an XC-540 but the K head only printed 1 side on a nozzle check.

I did basic cleanings and manual cleanings but no improvement.
I syringe pulled both (K) lines from below the capping station and have good suction and they draw ink.
I removed the left or closest (K) damper and noticed the black plastic pole (inlet the damper clicks onto) was cracked and missing the tip so the damper did not click into place.
I took an old printhead and removed the black dual ink inlet plastic piece and put it on my current (K) printhead.
I flushed the ink inlets with cleaning solution and the solution came out of the printhead.
I checked the bottom of the dampers and I do pull ink from both damper lines with my syringe.
Then I installed the spare part substituted printhead back in the printer.
Then part of the missing left side of the Black (K) Nozzle check appeared but not fully.
Then after a cleaning the Nozzle Check was pretty good and I was happy.
We used the printer for a couple days then the same left side of the Black (K) Nozzle check dropped out again.
I removed the damper and noticed the right or back (K) damper was cracked but the tip still intact so I replaced the whole black ink inlet again with another one we have.
But the left Black (K) nozzle check did not appear.

My next idea is thinking it may be a bad printhead cable. Can I switch the left printhead cable to the right connector and switch the right printhead cable to the left connector and see if the nozzle check flips?
I was not sure if switching the printhead cables would cause an electrical issue.

Side note: I did closely look at the metal connectors on both printhead cables and they were clean and no bends.
Side note: At one point early, I did flip the dampers on the Black (K) printhead but it did not move the nozzle check. My first thought was the damper was bad which is why I flipped them earlier on.

Any thoughts or ideas? Here are some pictures of the nozzle checks.

Nozzle check after substituting the black plastic ink inlet piece (some came back)

Nozzle check after another cleaning (workable for days now)

Nozzle check today

 

[Joe House]

You can switch both cables from one channel to another - keeping the proper orientation, but you can't swap the two cables from one head with each other. This doesn't strike me as electrical though. Electrical will usually take out the entire head or fire it constantly.
I'd focus on the damper, manifold, o-rings etc for that side.

Good Luck

 

[davinciimports]

Thank you very much for the reply. Joe House

I did not notice an O-ring.
Would that be underneath the locking nut where the ink tube meets the damper? Or where the damper meets the black plastic ink inlet part?

Edit: Found an o-ring on the ink tube where gold nut attaches to the damper. I changed the o-ring on both (K) dampers. Running a cleaning now. Darn. Was not the o-ring.

Going to try switching the printhead cables just to see if it moves.

Next up, I need to figure out what a manifold is in the printer.

 

[Joe House]

The manifold is the part that you replaced on the printhead. There's a gasket on the underside that seals the manifold to the print head. Make sure that's installed correctly.
Also, there should be an o-ring in the bottom of the damper. Make sure that's in properly as well. They can become dislodged when you remove the damper from the print head.

Good Luck

 

[davinciimports]

No luck today. I switched the 2 (K) cables and neither side showed on the test print and I lost both (Y). oops.
I put the cables back to original position but then (K) and (Y) didn't test print. double oops. (test prints A and C are fine)

I will pull out the (K) head tomorrow and see if I did not line up the rubber seal between the manifold and printhead correctly.
Then try again tomorrow afternoon.