Mutoh 1324X Fading Color Issues

[FernwehPrinting]

Good evening, Everyone!

I purchased a used Mutoh 1324X a little over one year ago, from a sign shop that was closing down.
Only OEM cartridges are used in it.

It's not used a heavy amount, but cleaning cycles are ran daily with deeper cleanings (wiper, head, etc.) and greasing once weekly.

About 6 months after, I started having an issue with colors that have a lot of yellow and magenta in them. (Reds, Orange, etc)
About 1.5' to 2' into the print, the colors start to quickly fade into a much lighter color.
For example:
Bright reds fade into more pink.
Oranges fade into a coral color.

There's no issue with just magenta or just yellow when printing them alone. Only when mixed.

There are no missing nozzles in the nozzle check & no bubbles in the line.

The only shop that I've found that service Mutoh printers, in this area, said it will be $450 just to drive out and look at it, plus the parts and labor to change anything out. So I wanted to try here first to see if anyone else has had this issue.


Thank you for your time!

 

[jim_papa]

For the year you have it, do you did any maintenance service? Like dumper - maintenance station, wiper?

 

[Solventinkjet]

Usually when colors fade it's due to a failing damper. As stated above, have you changed out maintenance parts on schedule?

 

[FernwehPrinting]

I haven't changed out any maintenance parts on it. But that's definitely where I'll start.

Thank you!

Apologies for my naivete, I'm new to owning all of the equipment and running a business versus having been working in a shop under someone else
I've found it's an incredibly different experience. But still worth it

I'm going to order all of the parts to change out.
Thank you both again!

 

[lbpalm]

Good evening, Everyone!

I purchased a used Mutoh 1324X a little over one year ago, from a sign shop that was closing down.
Only OEM cartridges are used in it.

It's not used a heavy amount, but cleaning cycles are ran daily with deeper cleanings (wiper, head, etc.) and greasing once weekly.

About 6 months after, I started having an issue with colors that have a lot of yellow and magenta in them. (Reds, Orange, etc)
About 1.5' to 2' into the print, the colors start to quickly fade into a much lighter color.
For example:
Bright reds fade into more pink.
Oranges fade into a coral color.

There's no issue with just magenta or just yellow when printing them alone. Only when mixed.

There are no missing nozzles in the nozzle check & no bubbles in the line.

The only shop that I've found that service Mutoh printers, in this area, said it will be $450 just to drive out and look at it, plus the parts and labor to change anything out. So I wanted to try here first to see if anyone else has had this issue.


Thank you for your time!

- Encoder disk & encoder strip been cleaned recently?