Looking at aquiring a Rockhopper 2 what problems???!!!

[heyskull]

I am looking at acquiring a Mutoh Rockhopper 2 64" cheapish.
The guy reckons it hasn't been used for 4 months and when last tried a test print it was very blurry.
Is their anyone can give me some advice when buying one of these machines?
I have a Mutoh Valuejet which I am fairly familiar with.
So what should I be looking for and what should I avoid?

Thanks
SC

 

[Haakon]

You should avoid the Rockhopper 2!

I don't know what VJ you have, but I used to work at a shop where they had a Rockhopper 2, and it was just slow, unreliable and expensive to maintain. They got rid of it and upgraded to a VJ1614 (or was is 1604, whichever was new in 2008).

Now this Rockhopper was probably not the best of its kind and was used for a long time, but that seems to maybe be the case for the one you are looking at also? Had to replace both head and pump while I worked there, but the main downside was that the prints took forever to dry I remember, while the VJ had dry prints right off the platten, ready for rolling up on the take up system.

I remember that the leasing company did not bother picking it up after the printer was replaced with a VJ on a new lease, it would cost more to have it shipped back than it was worth to them. So it went in the junk, the boss wouldn't have the hassle of trying to sell it considering how bad we felt it was.

Now take this info with the fact that this was my first printer experience in mind, I got kind of thrown into having to make this work.

 

[Solventinkjet]

Haakon is right. If you want to spend a lot of time and money fixing it up and them more time and money maintaining it, go ahead and get it. If you are looking for a reliable, fast, high quality, used machine, go with a Mutoh ValueJet or Mimaki JV33.

 

[heyskull]

I have a Valuejet 1604 already.

We had an issue were the 1604 was off line for over a week and it caused a serious back log on jobs.
So I am just looking for a back up machine that will probably run in the background and be used mainly to print banners.

SC

 

[chester215]

Before you buy, check the prices for print heads etc. I think they are becoming harder to find.

 

[heyskull]

What print heads do they use?

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[chester215]

A quick search says dx4. I have a falcon outdoor that takes the dx2 print heads that seem to be getting harder to find.

 

[heyskull]

The DX4 is in the mimaki JV3 and their is plenty of them still about.
I think the capping station and pump is also the same as the JV3.
I have noticed that the alignment is a pig to setup as they are all individual heads.
But why is the rockhopper 2 such a horrible machine and the people with Mimaki JV3s think they are so good and they basically have a lot of the same components? Or am I missing something?

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[wunder]

The DX4 is in the mimaki JV3 and their is plenty of them still about.
I think the capping station and pump is also the same as the JV3.
I have noticed that the alignment is a pig to setup as they are all individual heads.
But why is the rockhopper 2 such a horrible machine and the people with Mimaki JV3s think they are so good and they basically have a lot of the same components? Or am I missing something?

SC

Mimaki JV3 and Mutoh RHII use many same parts but the printquality is very different....this is a mechanical issue ! Mutoh is everytime the better choice and always a good working machine....if runs firmware 3.01 with i²-waeving and 2x4 cmyk OcOh or 1x6cmyk lm lc

best regards
wunder

 

[heyskull]

Is this a usable machine as a second machine as it seems their is varying opinions?

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[FatCat]

Would it be usable? Yes. Would it be a wise investment? Probably not. If it were me, I would steer clear of the older Mutoh's due to their troublesome reputation. Another business owner I know across town has one and seems to have nothing buy trouble keeping it running. After operating the 1604 I think you'll feel like you're taking a step backward if you get that machine.

Question; Do you absolutely "need" another 64" machine, or could you go a bit smaller? Other than adding another 1604/14 I think a used 1204 or 1304 may be a good fit for you.


The reason I ask is I started out with a 1204 and then added a 1604 last year. The pair really complement each other in more ways than I can mention. Many of the parts and user items are interchangeable between the two, (print head, maintenance station, wiper blade, ink carts, etc.) Plus, I found out all the profiles I use in Wasatch are exactly the same for both printers, and they print about the same on all materials I use. (Not identical, but pretty close.) When I added my 1604 I initially pondered selling my 1204, but now I wouldn't even consider it. The ability to have 2 machines printing, and if disaster strikes, having a good backup that keeps printing without down time is priceless.

The choice is yours, but I would definitely consider going this route instead for efficiency, ease of use and cost savings.

 

[wunder]

Would it be usable? Yes. Would it be a wise investment? Probably not. If it were me, I would steer clear of the older Mutoh's due to their troublesome reputation. Another business owner I know across town has one and seems to have nothing buy trouble keeping it running. After operating the 1604 I think you'll feel like you're taking a step backward if you get that machine.

Question; Do you absolutely "need" another 64" machine, or could you go a bit smaller? Other than adding another 1604/14 I think a used 1204 or 1304 may be a good fit for you.


The reason I ask is I started out with a 1204 and then added a 1604 last year. The pair really complement each other in more ways than I can mention. Many of the parts and user items are interchangeable between the two, (print head, maintenance station, wiper blade, ink carts, etc.) Plus, I found out all the profiles I use in Wasatch are exactly the same for both printers, and they print about the same on all materials I use. (Not identical, but pretty close.) When I added my 1604 I initially pondered selling my 1204, but now I wouldn't even consider it. The ability to have 2 machines printing, and if disaster strikes, having a good backup that keeps printing without down time is priceless.

The choice is yours, but I would definitely consider going this route instead for efficiency, ease of use and cost savings.

I don`t think he goes not step backward....the RH-II same like RH-III/Spitfire (little differnts, Takeup & Smartchip) can be the better choice as the 1204.... Printing Quality the same max 1440dpi, Cheaper Printheads.....1 DX4 PH ~560,-€ to DX5 ~1300,-€ and the lifetime of the DX4 is always a better then DX5.... Is one Ink-Channel Broken, missfiring a.s.o you must change complete the PH.

RH-II runs faster with same Quality "must be good established" The Heating System is always better.....gives you never Drying problems by Printing Fast-Mode ~30m² Banner a.s.o

I think....The RH-II or RH-III/Spitfire is never a Step backward

regards
wunder

 

[letterman7]

I don't know what's readily available on the second hand market there in the UK, but after purchasing a Rockhopper II as one of my first machines, I'd never get another, even for a backup. Expensive to maintain (at least here), parts are becoming scarce and printing times quite slow. At first I thought it was the bees knees, but after dumping it (couldn't take the down time anymore) and purchasing a used Valuejet, there just isn't any comparison. Save your coin and try to find another Vjet. The Rhopper is absolutely a step backwards.

 

[genericname]

1 DX4 PH ~560,-€ to DX5 ~1300,-€ and the lifetime of the DX4 is always a better then DX5.... Is one Ink-Channel Broken, missfiring a.s.o you must change complete the PH.

Except that you need 4 DX4 printheads, versus 1 DX5 head, so you're actually spending 3/4 more cash to get the same result.

And is the DX5 really that fragile? I could destroy a DX4 by looking at it. DX5s must be made out of toilet paper.

 

[heyskull]

Well it is very rare for a second user Valuejet to come up for sale in the UK and when they do they are prohibitivley overpriced.
At the moment buying a new one is out of the question as funds are very low especially after getting my valuejet back running.
The new Valuejet 1624 runs different inks and no doubt Mutoh have blocked it even more so you cannot use third party inks etc.
I just hoped this would maybe a good second machine to run alongside.

SC