This morning we noticed a print job had a strange hue to it, so we ran a test print and only one half of the yellow block printed. So we replaced the damper, drew ink into the damper, did 2 INK FILLS and ran another test print. About 10% of the formerly blank half showed yellow, which was a good sign. So I did a normal clean, ran another test print and ZERO printed on that side. So we did a strong clean and same result. You can see ink in the line and in the damper. I am operating under the assumption that this damper stopped working yesterday and the head has dried out. I am hoping that a 99 minute nozzle wash does the trick. Do you guys think I am on the right track? Anything else I should be doing? If, after this nozzle wash is done, I am still showing zero yellow on that side, I'm taking it to DEFCON 1.....or is it 5? Whatever the bad one is....
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JV3-160SP - HALF yellow out - Replaced Damper - Still NO ink
- Thread starter MarkH42
- Start date
MikePro
New Member
replacing dampers isn't really a fix for missing nozzles in a test print, its potentially upgrading your gremlin to a full can o' worms.
I'm on the road but i'll check back in a bit to throw some pearls your way. in the meantime, set a nozzle wash and power-down/unplug your machine for a good-long soak.
I'm on the road but i'll check back in a bit to throw some pearls your way. in the meantime, set a nozzle wash and power-down/unplug your machine for a good-long soak.
Thanks Mike! I finished the nozzle wash and still nothing. So I called GRIMCO tech support and they suggested I put the syringe on the tube below the capping station (single tube connecting pump to underside of capping station). I removed the back panel, separated the yellow line at a joint, put a syringe on the tube and pulled until ink came into the syringe. I then did a test print and the problem was solved. I don't know how that head lost its prime, so I'm on pins and needles for a while, but it is running for now and I'm grateful for that.
Solventinkjet
DIY Printer Fixing Guide
I would change the capping station. A syringe pulls much harder than the pump does. This makes it so that when you pull with the syringe, the cap will seal due to the extra force pulling the seal shut. Your problem probably originated with a bad cap top and it took a while for the symptoms to show up.
reQ
New Member
That would be my guess also. Had same issue when i replaced cap tops. Everything was fine but after few days same crap happened, half nozzles were missing. Removed and installed cap tops back and running fine since.
MikePro
New Member
sounds like you're lacking a good seal with the capping station. i'll bet, if you were listening for it, you could hear a hissing noise at the printhead/captop while you were drawing ink with a syringe.
try pulling up, slightly/gently, on the black rubber seal around the head of the capping station prior to re-parkng your heads on it. Will make your fit more snug.
grats on the fix, however.
I was going to mention that usually when people have ink dropout issues after a damper replacement, it is because they broke the black plastic manifold (printhead nipple the damper fits-onto)
try pulling up, slightly/gently, on the black rubber seal around the head of the capping station prior to re-parkng your heads on it. Will make your fit more snug.
grats on the fix, however.
I was going to mention that usually when people have ink dropout issues after a damper replacement, it is because they broke the black plastic manifold (printhead nipple the damper fits-onto)