Digital BW, The Print

My R1800 uses the 3MK approach, ie Eboni ink in the two black and the
glop positions. The other five positions contain the clear MIS
cleaning fluid. When I run a nozzle check (which I do every few days
to keep the nozzles flowing) I get good results on the two black
positions and a nice checkerboard for the glop cart. Up till now, I
couldn't see whether or not the other positions check ok since the
fluid is clear. 

But lately I'm getting some faint lines in the red position. (This is
even after running the cleaning procedure.) Why would coloration show
up in this clear position? The red cart is the one right next to the
PK position... might there be some sort of bleedover? Anyone have any
comments on this? Thanks all!

My prints are fine, by the way... am using QTR to print .tiff files.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Whiting"
<paulmwhiting@...> wrote:

> 
> But lately I'm getting some faint lines in the red position. (This is
> even after running the cleaning procedure.) Why would coloration show
> up in this clear position? The red cart is the one right next to the
> PK position... might there be some sort of bleedover? Anyone have any
> comments on this? Thanks all!
> 
> My prints are fine, by the way... am using QTR to print .tiff files.
>

Somehow, and I'm not at all sure how this is happening, the inks is
being sucked into that head! I've had this happen on bottle systems,
but never on a cart only system. And it can be a huge task to get it
clear too!

The other thought is that the head cleaner (rubber wiper) is covered
in goo and needs to be cleaned. It is forcing the goo up into the head
and it again can be difficult to remedy (and very messy).

> Somehow, and I'm not at all sure how this is happening, the inks is
> being sucked into that head! I've had this happen on bottle systems,
> but never on a cart only system. And it can be a huge task to get it
> clear too!
> 
> The other thought is that the head cleaner (rubber wiper) is covered
> in goo and needs to be cleaned. It is forcing the goo up into the head
> and it again can be difficult to remedy (and very messy).

Thanks, Greg, good feedback.

Actually, I've been running several nozzle checks in a row and it
seems to be clearing up. I'm reluctant to do too many head cleanings
in a session, I've heard Epson printers are not happy with that...
best to do only a maximum of three cleanings (each one is more severe)
then print a full page of anything to reset the cleaning procedure.

But, like I say, later nozzle checks indicate it's getting better.
Maybe I panicked too soon.

Paul

> Thanks, Greg, good feedback.
> 
> Actually, I've been running several nozzle checks in a row and it
> seems to be clearing up. I'm reluctant to do too many head cleanings
> in a session, I've heard Epson printers are not happy with that...
> best to do only a maximum of three cleanings (each one is more severe)
> then print a full page of anything to reset the cleaning procedure.

I think Greg nailed it on both counts.  If the color comes back again look at the pads.  I 
inherited a terminally clogged 1800.  After getting the nozzles cleared with cleaning fluid 
the clogs came back (and ink remains with nozzle checks with cleaning fluid)  The 
solution was to remove the right side panel (looking at the front), there are two tubes that 
lead from the two parking pads.  You can disconnect them, soak the parking pads with 
cleaning fluid/windex then suck out the remains with a syringe.  That unit has been 
printing now for seven months or so without problem.

If the pads are relatively clear and don't clog the nozzles when parking it can still be the 
nozzles themselves.  I once ran cleaning fluid through a well used 220 before putting it 
into deep storage.  I ran a purge pattern with cleaning fluid.  It was over 20 sheets of 
plain copy paper with the paper setting on Matte before I got all the nozzles to give a 
completely clean pattern.

> I think Greg nailed it on both counts.  If the color comes back
again look at the pads.  I 
> inherited a terminally clogged 1800.  After getting the nozzles
cleared with cleaning fluid 
> the clogs came back (and ink remains with nozzle checks with
cleaning fluid)  The 
> solution was to remove the right side panel (looking at the front),
there are two tubes that 
> lead from the two parking pads.  You can disconnect them, soak the
parking pads with 
> cleaning fluid/windex then suck out the remains with a syringe. 
That unit has been 
> printing now for seven months or so without problem.
> 
> If the pads are relatively clear and don't clog the nozzles when
parking it can still be the 
> nozzles themselves.  I once ran cleaning fluid through a well used
220 before putting it 
> into deep storage.  I ran a purge pattern with cleaning fluid.  It
was over 20 sheets of 
> plain copy paper with the paper setting on Matte before I got all
the nozzles to give a 
> completely clean pattern.

Thank you, Robert. I've run a few more nozzle checks and it seems to
be gradually clearing up. Like I say, it does not affect my b/w prints
so that's not my worry. I'd just like the keep the non-Eboni jets
clear just in case I want to go back to color some day.

Your tips are very helpful... I'm going to print those out and add
them to my "Troubleshooting Epson Printers" file - which is beginning
to show some signs of bulge!

Regards,

Paul