Digital BW, The Print

A couple of years ago I joined this group in order to create better black and 
white images. After finding and purchasing a refurbished Epson 1160 and a 
set of MIS QVM inks, bad stuff happened and I never installed the inks.

Finally today, I got the printer up and running and the colour cartridge looks 
just dandy but the black cartridge, after three cleaning cycles and two small 
prints, there are still gaps in the print and in the test patterns.

Does this mean the cartridge is totally bad, or can it be rescued somehow? 
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Lara Hartley
Staff Photographer Victorville Daily Press