taking head off for soak

[graphix]

hello all, been awhile,i have a sp540 and the service manual,,i have tried to clean my black head free from ink clog, i am convinced it is clogged from the ink side,i would like to take the head off and soak it or even shoot some cleanner in the damper and run through it..but really don't know how to remove damper or take head off...what pages explain this in manual i am overlooking how to do this ..thanks..

 

[graphix]

i found how to remove head..if i remove head do i need to put rank number in on old head (seen where you cant see rank number on head if it's already on machine ..new head you can see number) what do i do know? Thanks

 

[graphix]

or are they any techs in the cincy ohio area? Thanks

 

[sfr table hockey]

An easier option would be to first make sure your drain lines are clear and doing what they need to be able to do, draw ink through the heads.

Then just try to fill the captops with some cleaning fluid and reset the heads onto them. The cleaning solution touching the heads will draw into them a bit. Leave for half an hour and then do a normal cleaning cycle to clear the captops and refresh the heads. Do a test print and see if it was any better.

This way you don't need to remove any heads and go throught the alignment issues that you would have re setting the heads. That can be a pain if you have not done before.

The head rank is most times in black ink on the side of the head and most times you can't see that while they are in the printer. If you replace the same head into the same spot then you don't change the head rank but if you mix them up or replace one, then the head rank needs to match with the head in that spot. Head rank fires that head for the best results so a head can print with the wrong head rank but it may damage it or not print as well.

 

[sfr table hockey]

Last option may be to remove the damper (should be easier than a head) and use an old damper that you can fill with cleaning solution and put in place. Run a cleaning cycle once or twice to let the head charge with cleaning solution. Let sit a while. I am not sure if doing a test print would hurt while the cleaning solution was in the head, can't see how it would, but that would help to clear a block.

Then replace the damper back with the regular one and do another couple cleaning cycles and another test print.

 

[graphix]

thanks for replies, i did do a cap soak several times and i also pushed some cleaning fluid up in the head with swab and filled capping station and soaked and i did alot of medium head cleaning but just not breaking it lose...this build up i believe happened because of just sitting and not working and neglect of not printing with it...but i had problems last year and really it's been sitting and i tried to print black and it has over spray but print test shows plugged nozzles...think i will order new dampers and try to bust clogs with dampers filled with solution i see where some use nmu cleaning solution but dont know anything about it...is it hard to change dampers?thanks

 

[sfr table hockey]

I have never worked on the newer Rolands but if its anything like the old CJ, you need to take care removing a damper by pulling straight up and not rocking side to side or you can crack the nib the damper sits over. The o ring in the damper can be tight to get off the head so you need to use something to hold onto the top of the damper tight while pulling up.

It may be harder to get at then actually removing once you are there. Once you get it off and go to unscrew the brass nut that holds the ink line in place you will see the ink flow back to the cart as soon as there is an air leak. Once you replace the damper you need to draw ink into it and make sure there is no air in the line.

If you just use an old damper to fill with cleaning solution, you may not need to remove the existing one from the line as long as it can set some place and not get damaged while you try to do the cleaning cycle. The older printer you can do that, not sure on yours.

 

[34Ford]

I was able to read the rank numbers using a dental mirror.

 

[FrankW]

If different medium cleanings don't help, it could be that there is a problem with the cap top or the pump. At first, before removing the head, its easier to take a syringe, connect it to the tube of the cap top and pull. If you pull air instead of ink, there could be a problem that the cap top is worn out, if you can pull nothing it could be that the tube is clogged, if pulling ink with a syringe it could be that the pump is damaged.

 

[phototec]

Anyone here use the Print Head Doctor to clean print heads?

In the video below, it looks like it works pretty well to recover a clogged print head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=K8KoeQbJV04&NR=1