Mutoh valuejet 1204 ga help please!

[BSL Graphix]

I was printing side wrap for race car and all was going well, got to the end of print and last foot or so my colors got light. The colors I noticed it most on were purple and black. I did a strong cleaning or two on the printer and also cleaned around the print head and wiper with cleaner and swab as I always do. I did a print nozzle check and I was missing my red. I see air in the lines. I checked in status and was very low on magenta. I replaced all ink cartridges because they all seemed to be about empty although the link status levels had them all (except magenta 9%) around 20%. Now I can still se some air pockets in the magenta lines above the print head. Now the red prints out as yellow? I will attach a print sample. I have had printer about 15 months now with now problems and I take real good care of cleaning it in my opinion. This is my first printer and really don't know much about working on it except general maintenance. Any help on where to begin? thank you!

 

[BSL Graphix]

here are some pictures....the middle picture is supposed to be red blocks???

 

[gregwallace]

Can you post a nozzle test?

 

[timson_ads]

keep re-priming ink until all bubbles in line gone

 

[letterman7]

Strange it would happen like that. My 1204 gives warnings when the ink level gets too low. If yours bounces like mine as it prints, it's possible that it got to suck some air rather than ink. Try printing solid blocks of color - 2' square at least - to re-prime each line (at least easier than manually removing each line and sucking the ink through). Do blocks of magenta, yellow, etc and see if the colors will come back or if you're still sucking air. If there is still air, obviously there is a leak somewhere - o-rings at the head, cartridges not completely seated, even a cracked ink line.

 

[timson_ads]

you need to remove all the casing so that you can easily see whats going on inside. did you happen to remove the damper? if you cant see the problem in the lines neither in the carts outside, maybe you have a broken manifold. does your nozzle check is good?

 

[BSL Graphix]

i have never removed damper...it's just way I bought it new...except changed flush box couple times, waste tray couple times, and routine cleaning. I let it sit for few hours today...now trying to purge air out by printing magenta and yellow blocks....and did a couple "strong" cleanings...we'll see how it goes!

 

[BSL Graphix]

I've "strong" cleaned it 3 times now...and tried to print magenta blocks....I don't see any air in the lines now...but still not printing magenta?

 

[BSL Graphix]

all other colors print perfect...nozzle is missing magenta completely...all others are perfect

 

[BSL Graphix]

**update**

OK I think I'm back in business.....I have another race car side set print now...after repeated cleanings/ printing magenta blocks/ and nozzle checks, it finally fired back up! I hope all is well now! thanks!

 

[timson_ads]

great man just leave it there in that state keep printing and observe what happen keep us posted.

 

[Robert M]

Cap top

I would get a new cap top. For some reason the magenta seems to go out first when the cap top is not sealing against the head.
I have them if you need one
www.solventinkjet.com

 

[jdeaver]

I had this same issue a couple years back, it happened very all of the sudden. It was the maintenance station on our Mutoh 1204. If my memory serves me correct it was about $200 from sign warehouse and took me about 2-3 hours to install. Mutoh claims the part should be replaced every 2 years (yeah right). Best of luck to you sir!