So this is fun- looks like it was originally the damper - when the tech removed the dampers from the head station ink started pouring out - however, that ink then got all over the head, effectively ruining it.
I don't know why they decided to configure the head this way - to remove the dampers with zero chance of drippage you have to take the whole thing out which, to someone who is very nervous regarding anything concerning the head, seems like asking for trouble. Either way I'm down for 3 days.