Damper Trouble

[jackbro64]

Hi,
I had problems with my JV3-160S printing black. I did the usual long nozzle wash, strongs cleanings, etc. Then I did a head wash. Didn't help and it actually got worse! Now the magenta is not printing. I checked the dampers, and they seemed OK. I wanted to leave the rest intact for reference, but I just had to look at "working " one (C/Y). Lo and behold. Once I replaced damper, lost C?Y!!!!
I've done nimerous ink fills, drawn with syringe, but can't get anything through. I find it hard to believe I have clogged heads, but That is really the only thing left. Sound familiar anyone?

 

[artbot]

if you are losing both color simultaneously it is the not fault of the damper. unless you removed CY and then plugged them both back improperly. are your caps showing the normal half and half latent ink from the cycles, are they looking dry, or are they filling up with ink and not draining?

 

[CS-SignSupply]

Busted/cracked manifold possibly?

 

[jackbro64]

if you are losing both color simultaneously it is the not fault of the damper. unless you removed CY and then plugged them both back improperly. are your caps showing the normal half and half latent ink from the cycles, are they looking dry, or are they filling up with ink and not draining?

No, caps are only showing the normal 1/2 for C/Y. Only showing residual for lc, and NONE for K/M. I left the machine in off status with solvent in caps. Came back and got C going, and ever-so-slight lc. K & M still nothing. I hooked up a syringe/tube to the M & K inlets on head and got solvent through no problem. I'm running strong washes and ink fills to try and get K/C back. Nothing yet. Thanks for reply.

 

[signswi]

Is the capping station seated correctly? Sometimes the clips come off the arms that rock the station back and forth which ruins the suction, and it's hard to notice if you don't know to look for it.

 

[artbot]

just running washes without monitoring your pumps is not the way to go, if you aren't having success. get a good look at the pump tubes during the washes. that will tell you if you've got vacuum doing any "washing". if the pump issue seems suspect, trade pump tubers with a better functioning pump tube location and see if the worst head suddenly gets better. thus, you'll know that you've got a clogged/dried pump.

 

[jackbro64]

Well, I tried sucking through the stations with a syringe (again), but went HULK on it instead of WIMPY. It worked! Got all colors back. Just a few more cleanings and it should be perfect! I guess you have to get mean sometimes. LOL. I already have new capping stations coming and I am going to replace tubing. Pumps are working, but I have a spare on order.

Thanks for all your help!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[artbot]

keep that old capping station around and soak it in acetone/butyl cellosolve. it will be as good as new with a good soak. that way you can have a quick trade out when the new one starts acting up.

 

[daveb]

keep that old capping station around and soak it in acetone/butyl cellosolve. it will be as good as new with a good soak. that way you can have a quick trade out when the new one starts acting up.

I'm still on the second capping station after six years. Fist time I replaced the capping station I soaked the old one in acetone over night and the next time we had problems, put it back on. Just recycled the capping stations, works fine. I think sometimes we get too impatient with these things, the last time we had problems the operator didn't have enough material on an overnight print. The media was taped to the tube and when it got to the last 10'' the material stopped and the ink just puddled up on top. The next morning two heads were almost totally plugged and dried ink had really made a mess of the capping station, this was on Friday morning, worked on it almost all day with very little if no improvement. Finally replaced the capping station about 4, still nothing.... It was Friday, I wasn't going to get a tech here until Monday, so I just shut it up with the clean capping station. Believe it or not by Monday almost all the nozzles were back, a few washes and we were back in business. It just needed to set for 48 hours with the capping station well sealed and stewing in it's own little juices and we were back in business.Taught me to take my time, no mater how frustrating, some things just can't be rushed.