Mutoh rockhopper ll Print Heads (DX4)

[D.A.M Uk Solutions]

Hi all and hopping someone can give some advice.
I have osted this tred in a old post, but ahve not had any luck in getting any help. So ithought create a new thred regarding the Epson DX4 print heads and how they should be fitted and if you can just install and run.

Well here gose:-

Well I have read ever post I can find relating to print heads for my Mutoh Rockhopper ll.
And I am now more confused than I was before reading for the past 3 hours!
I have a problem with one of the heads K/Cy (head 1).
It has been giving some problems for the last 2 weeks now. So it as been removed and cleaned, got it to around 90% clear replaced it and was printing ok ish for a day or so, then started to drop off again.
So we replaced the dampers and the captops. but still would not clear the problem, so took out the head again and soaked overnight and cleaned through with a syringe and cleaning fluid. Replaced the print head. Did a test print and still the same. Left it until the next day and tried again, now we get a print that is covered with black ink (it will print all colours of the image but floods the print with black.
So have been looking to buy a new print head. But have read so many differing posts regarding installing them that spending £600 plus to have it blow the first time I power up the printer.
some as yopu need to input the code for the heas some sy you do not some say, you have to buy a head set for your printer some say it is not a problem and you can just replace with any DX4 print head and use the settings you have already in the printer, (just align the head)
Which is right? What is the best thing to do with very limited funds? I an ideal situation we would like to just get an engineer to come and replace the faulty head so we can get on with printing but funds are hard as just been running for a year, after being out of the industry for just under 6 years.
Any help and advice would be good so we can decide what to do.
Thank you all.

 

[articSIGNS]

Rank numbers

In all the time I have been in business no rank number has been used to swap out our printheads, neither from engineers or from our own in house engineer. There simply is no need they are mainly voltage settings but because the printheads are mass produce these rank numbers are not as necessary as some people may think.

 

[henryp]

A printhead without the correct headrank will still print, however there is no guarantee that you will be getting the optimum print quality from it. The headrank sets tge voltage applied to the piezzoz to control the size and shape of the main dot and satellite dots. This can result in grainy print, banding, and even overspray issues.

 

[artbot]

the flooding of black is probably because the ribbon to it isn't seated properly. but also could be that it got damaged electrically in the cleaning and replacing. the price of these dx4 heads is insane. i'm sure epson at most has about $50 bucks or less producing them or they couldn't offer them for $325 each for their machines. to think that a dx5 cost so much less and replaces all the colors at once. that is reason alone to not buy a dx4 based machine used. as far as the head ranks, just plug and play. this subject has been worked to death. i almost think the head rank issue has been more of a marketing play up at epson between oems in order to harness their own clients into purchasing oem replacement heads.

 

[Stealth Ryder]

I always input the correct Headranks... I have seen Heads develop many different unexplainable issues whereas the Head Ranks were not adjusted during installation... I have not not these same issues on Heads that were installed with the correct Head Ranks.... The debate goes on... JMO