Digital BW, The Print

>...
>it looked like the black ink has dried out just before
>entering the cartridge...


I don't know where the inks dried in my CIS systems, but twice I used
systems that had been sitting idle for a while, and they clogged my 1160 --
seriously.  The second one killed the head.  For me it was the color head.
(I paid $180 to have the head replaced.)

It may be that the CIS/CFS system is really only a good idea for those who
use the same inkset rather continuously.  Many heavy users have very good
luck with them.  My pattern of changing between inksets was a disaster with
the CIS, however.

So, I fill new carts now.  With the vacuum filling system, I usually get a
perfect nozzle check the first effort -- just like a factory-filled cart.
For infrequent printers or those who like to switch among inksets, I
recommend this.

The black ink would probably be the most sensitive to leaks (or just air
passing straight through the plastic tubing) due to its solvent base.  (The
solvent base and it's faster dying is important for both a deep black and
longevity.)  Since my small printer -- the 1160 -- is used for letters and
all general printing, the black ink always gets lots of use.  So I virtually
never have a clog with it or any color position with the carts.  If your
printer is a dedicated photo printer and you don't use it much, the black
would be the one to keep an eye on in terms of trouble.

If the ink solidified right by the connection to the cart, I'd be suspicious
of a bad fitting there.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com