My Canon i560 has, more less suddenly, stopped emitting black ink.
I've had it for a bit (couple of years) and it has always served me well.
In pretty much all aspects it suits my printing needs (that is until now<g>)

Looking for some other reasonable things to try.
Hopefully I can provide enough clues to sense what's going on.

I've had an exchange w/Canon Support and tried their suggestions
(Cleaning/Deep-Cleaning/wait 24...).
I came across some ideas about "soaking" the Printhead in water for awhile.
I've tried that a couple of different times.
Nothing gets past not depositing black ink on the paper.
I send a simple text document to the i560 and it cycles and stutters and
rattles and rolls like it's responding to fonts etc. but black doesn't show
(colors do however).
I have cartridges that have plenty of ink in them.
Today I put a totally new/full black one in - no difference.

The really annoying thing is that black will appear in some places:
. a web page with "fixed" text will be black or dark gray
. a alignment page will have the color cartridge banding labeled in
black but
there isn't a black band at all
but not in others:
. a test page will have the colored Windows Logo but the files that are
usually listed are not imprinted on the paper - the printer just
sounds like it's doing it.
A picture (printed to plain paper) that has black in it looks okay.

Before I toss the i560 and get a new throwaway I'm looking for some other
avenues for fixing it or finding what's broken. I've been on again off again
trying and ignoring it. I'm pretty sure I've removed and reinstalled it and
the Canon software a few times.

Is there some reasonably conclusive way to determine if it's the printhead
or not?
I don't know what else to check.
At fifty bucks a pop (or there about from what I've seen) I'd hate to try
that and not have that solve the problem.

Anyway, sorry if this came out a bit long but I'm not sure what to provide
as clues for getting to the bottom of the issue.
TIA for your ideas.
Geo. Salisbury
Long Valley, NJ

On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:00:12 -0400, GSalisbury wrote:

> My Canon i560 has, more less suddenly, stopped emitting black ink.
> I've had it for a bit (couple of years) and it has always served me well.
> In pretty much all aspects it suits my printing needs (that is until now<g>)
>
> Looking for some other reasonable things to try.
> Hopefully I can provide enough clues to sense what's going on.
>
> I've had an exchange w/Canon Support and tried their suggestions
> (Cleaning/Deep-Cleaning/wait 24...).
> I came across some ideas about "soaking" the Printhead in water for awhile.
> I've tried that a couple of different times.
> Nothing gets past not depositing black ink on the paper.
> I send a simple text document to the i560 and it cycles and stutters and
> rattles and rolls like it's responding to fonts etc. but black doesn't show
> (colors do however).
> I have cartridges that have plenty of ink in them.
> Today I put a totally new/full black one in - no difference.
>
> The really annoying thing is that black will appear in some places:
> . a web page with "fixed" text will be black or dark gray
> . a alignment page will have the color cartridge banding labeled in
> black but
> there isn't a black band at all
> but not in others:
> . a test page will have the colored Windows Logo but the files that are
> usually listed are not imprinted on the paper - the printer just
> sounds like it's doing it.
> A picture (printed to plain paper) that has black in it looks okay.
>
> Before I toss the i560 and get a new throwaway I'm looking for some other
> avenues for fixing it or finding what's broken. I've been on again off again
> trying and ignoring it. I'm pretty sure I've removed and reinstalled it and
> the Canon software a few times.
>
> Is there some reasonably conclusive way to determine if it's the printhead
> or not?
> I don't know what else to check.
> At fifty bucks a pop (or there about from what I've seen) I'd hate to try
> that and not have that solve the problem.
>
> Anyway, sorry if this came out a bit long but I'm not sure what to provide
> as clues for getting to the bottom of the issue.
> TIA for your ideas.
> Geo. Salisbury
> Long Valley, NJ

Why would you want to spend any time fixing an old outdated printer when
you can get a brand new ip4500 or 4600 for a little more than the cost of
ink?

measher-****-head wrote:
> On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:00:12 -0400, GSalisbury wrote:
>
>
>>My Canon i560 has, more less suddenly, stopped emitting black ink.
>>I've had it for a bit (couple of years) and it has always served me well.
>>In pretty much all aspects it suits my printing needs (that is until now<g>)
>>
>>Looking for some other reasonable things to try.
>>Hopefully I can provide enough clues to sense what's going on.
>>
>>I've had an exchange w/Canon Support and tried their suggestions
>>(Cleaning/Deep-Cleaning/wait 24...).
>>I came across some ideas about "soaking" the Printhead in water for awhile.
>>I've tried that a couple of different times.
>>Nothing gets past not depositing black ink on the paper.
>>I send a simple text document to the i560 and it cycles and stutters and
>>rattles and rolls like it's responding to fonts etc. but black doesn't show
>>(colors do however).
>>I have cartridges that have plenty of ink in them.
>>Today I put a totally new/full black one in - no difference.
>>
>>The really annoying thing is that black will appear in some places:
>> . a web page with "fixed" text will be black or dark gray
>> . a alignment page will have the color cartridge banding labeled in
>>black but
>> there isn't a black band at all
>>but not in others:
>> . a test page will have the colored Windows Logo but the files that are
>> usually listed are not imprinted on the paper - the printer just
>>sounds like it's doing it.
>>A picture (printed to plain paper) that has black in it looks okay.
>>
>>Before I toss the i560 and get a new throwaway I'm looking for some other
>>avenues for fixing it or finding what's broken. I've been on again off again
>>trying and ignoring it. I'm pretty sure I've removed and reinstalled it and
>>the Canon software a few times.
>>
>>Is there some reasonably conclusive way to determine if it's the printhead
>>or not?
>>I don't know what else to check.
>>At fifty bucks a pop (or there about from what I've seen) I'd hate to try
>>that and not have that solve the problem.
>>
>>Anyway, sorry if this came out a bit long but I'm not sure what to provide
>>as clues for getting to the bottom of the issue.
>>TIA for your ideas.
>>Geo. Salisbury
>>Long Valley, NJ
>
>
> Why would you want to spend any time fixing an old outdated printer when
> you can get a brand new ip4500 or 4600 for a little more than the cost of
> ink?

You moron! Not everyone is a stupid and as wasteful as you appear to be.
Get lost asshole.
Don't come back this time!
Loser!

"measekite" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uOvNk.6748$(E-Mail Removed)...
| On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:00:12 -0400, GSalisbury wrote:
|
[snip]
| >
| > Before I toss the i560 and get a new throwaway I'm looking for some
other
| > avenues for fixing it or finding what's broken. I've been on again off
again
| > trying and ignoring it. I'm pretty sure I've removed and reinstalled it
and
| > the Canon software a few times.
| >
| > Is there some reasonably conclusive way to determine if it's the
printhead
| > or not?
| > I don't know what else to check.
| > At fifty bucks a pop (or there about from what I've seen) I'd hate to
try
| > that and not have that solve the problem.
[snip]
| Why would you want to spend any time fixing an old outdated printer when
| you can get a brand new ip4500 or 4600 for a little more than the cost of
| ink?

Not wanting to start a contest but the answer is easy...
.. the i560 is there in place all wired up - I don't have to do anything.
.. a repair part can be shipped to me - I don't have to do anything
.. with four new ink cartridges in place at $10-$20 a pop a $50 head saves $$
.. lazy
.. I like it because I'm used to it and it's all I really need.
..

On Oct 28, 6:06 am, "GSalisbury" <inva...@invalid.net> wrote:

> Not wanting to start a contest but the answer is easy...
> . the i560 is there in place all wired up - I don't have to do anything.
> . a repair part can be shipped to me - I don't have to do anything
> . with four new ink cartridges in place at $10-$20 a pop a $50 head saves $$
> . lazy
> . I like it because I'm used to it and it's all I really need.
> .

The ultimate choice is yours. You're not likely to see an improvement
in text on a new iP3600. You are likely to see an increased cost of
printing black text from 2.5c/page to I think 3.5c/page or so. The
newest tanks are smaller. Same goes with the older iP3500, about 3c/
page vs what you currently have 2.5c or so. The i560 is a fine
printer, and in fact there are current models that employ a similar
head and resolution. Most important is the ease of aftermarket
cartridges. Newer models take chips, and while there are resetters
and replacement chips, aftermarket cartridges will cost more.

A new model is relativly cheap in contrast to the cost of the head.
There have been marginal improvements to ink longevity, color has
changed most notable skintones are now more skinny. There is also
dual trays and CD printing on many new models, though it's not a
feature enabled in the states, but it can be enabled.

Buy.com has the multifunction mp530 for $90 shipped for a referb, I
think $130 shipped new.
http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/w...2252&pageView=

The canon referb shop also has good deals on replacement products,
including a referb mp960 for $100 + shipping. They had the ip4200 for
under $50 plus shipping.

However there are many models which retail for under $100 which cost a
lot more for the ink. That's the trap to avoid if you can help it.
That's the case with the MX310, a nice all in one for under $100, but
smaller tanks.

The choice is yours, new head, about $50, or a new model starting at
about $80 shipped. There is nothing wrong with either choice.

On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:26:20 -0700, IntergalacticExpandingPanda wrote:

> On Oct 28, 6:06 am, "GSalisbury" <inva...@invalid.net> wrote:
>
>> Not wanting to start a contest but the answer is easy...
>> . the i560 is there in place all wired up - I don't have to do anything.
>> . a repair part can be shipped to me - I don't have to do anything
>> . with four new ink cartridges in place at $10-$20 a pop a $50 head saves $$
>> . lazy
>> . I like it because I'm used to it and it's all I really need.
>> .
>
> The ultimate choice is yours. You're not likely to see an improvement
> in text on a new iP3600. You are likely to see an increased cost of
> printing black text from 2.5c/page to I think 3.5c/page or so. The
> newest tanks are smaller. Same goes with the older iP3500, about 3c/
> page vs what you currently have 2.5c or so. The i560 is a fine
> printer, and in fact there are current models that employ a similar
> head and resolution. Most important is the ease of aftermarket
> cartridges. Newer models take chips, and while there are resetters
> and replacement chips, aftermarket cartridges will cost more.
>
> A new model is relativly cheap in contrast to the cost of the head.
> There have been marginal improvements to ink longevity, color has
> changed most notable skintones are now more skinny. There is also
> dual trays and CD printing on many new models, though it's not a
> feature enabled in the states, but it can be enabled.
>
> Buy.com has the multifunction mp530 for $90 shipped for a referb, I
> think $130 shipped new.
> http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/w...2252&pageView=
>
> The canon referb shop also has good deals on replacement products,
> including a referb mp960 for $100 + shipping. They had the ip4200 for
> under $50 plus shipping.
>
> However there are many models which retail for under $100 which cost a
> lot more for the ink. That's the trap to avoid if you can help it.
> That's the case with the MX310, a nice all in one for under $100, but
> smaller tanks.
>
> The choice is yours, new head, about $50, or a new model starting at
> about $80 shipped. There is nothing wrong with either choice.

There is no sense in buying a reburb. Buying new is best. You also get
duplex printing, better color, and most likely faster also.

GSalisbury wrote:
> My Canon i560 has, more less suddenly, stopped emitting black ink.
> I've had it for a bit (couple of years) and it has always served me well.
> In pretty much all aspects it suits my printing needs (that is until now<g>)
>
> Looking for some other reasonable things to try.
> Hopefully I can provide enough clues to sense what's going on.
>
> I've had an exchange w/Canon Support and tried their suggestions
> (Cleaning/Deep-Cleaning/wait 24...).
> I came across some ideas about "soaking" the Printhead in water for awhile.
> I've tried that a couple of different times.
> Nothing gets past not depositing black ink on the paper.
> I send a simple text document to the i560 and it cycles and stutters and
> rattles and rolls like it's responding to fonts etc. but black doesn't show
> (colors do however).
> I have cartridges that have plenty of ink in them.
> Today I put a totally new/full black one in - no difference.
>
> The really annoying thing is that black will appear in some places:
> . a web page with "fixed" text will be black or dark gray
> . a alignment page will have the color cartridge banding labeled in
> black but
> there isn't a black band at all
> but not in others:
> . a test page will have the colored Windows Logo but the files that are
> usually listed are not imprinted on the paper - the printer just
> sounds like it's doing it.
> A picture (printed to plain paper) that has black in it looks okay.
>
> Before I toss the i560 and get a new throwaway I'm looking for some other
> avenues for fixing it or finding what's broken. I've been on again off again
> trying and ignoring it. I'm pretty sure I've removed and reinstalled it and
> the Canon software a few times.
>
> Is there some reasonably conclusive way to determine if it's the printhead
> or not?
> I don't know what else to check.
> At fifty bucks a pop (or there about from what I've seen) I'd hate to try
> that and not have that solve the problem.
>
> Anyway, sorry if this came out a bit long but I'm not sure what to provide
> as clues for getting to the bottom of the issue.
> TIA for your ideas.
> Geo. Salisbury
> Long Valley, NJ

Maybe you could reverse clean that head using a Waterpik over the sink
at full force with hot water. Or you could flush it from the tank side
with a syringe and the proper size hose to slip over the inlet. I
could kick myself for throwing out a Canon printer with a non
functional head before I learned this technique. Sometimes a bicycle
hand pump can be used carefully.

On Oct 28, 5:36 pm, measekite <inkysti...@oem.com> wrote:

> There is no sense in buying a reburb. Buying new is best. You also get
> duplex printing, better color, and most likely faster also.

Buying new doesn't automatically give you duplex printing. In fact,
IIRC the new iP3600 doesn't offer duplex printing. To be honest, I
don't find this to be much of a feature on an inkjet. Now a laser
that's something else. I guess if I had a dozen smaller print jobs I
wanted to que I might find it handy.

I generally avoid referbs unless the price is really right. For
example the mp960 for $100 plus shipping on the canon store. That's
rather worth considering if one was in the market for such a beast.
If one needed a photo printer, they have the ip6700D for $40 plus
shipping. Canon referbs only carry a 3 month warranty, but at over
50% savings, well, that's worth considering.

But again, I'm actually supportive of a replacement head. Once you
take shipping into account, you are talking the $80 range for
replacement with no real advantage in the text department but with
increased cost.

"Al Bundy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:31b3621a-3acc-44e5-ae43-(E-Mail Removed)...
|
|
| GSalisbury wrote:
| > My Canon i560 has, more less suddenly, stopped emitting black ink.
| > I've had it for a bit (couple of years) and it has always served me
well.
| > In pretty much all aspects it suits my printing needs (that is until
now<g>)
| >
| > Looking for some other reasonable things to try.
| > Hopefully I can provide enough clues to sense what's going on.
| >
| > I've had an exchange w/Canon Support and tried their suggestions
| > (Cleaning/Deep-Cleaning/wait 24...).
| > I came across some ideas about "soaking" the Printhead in water for
awhile.
| > I've tried that a couple of different times.
| > Nothing gets past not depositing black ink on the paper.
| > I send a simple text document to the i560 and it cycles and stutters and
| > rattles and rolls like it's responding to fonts etc. but black doesn't
show
| > (colors do however).
| > I have cartridges that have plenty of ink in them.
| > Today I put a totally new/full black one in - no difference.
| >
| > The really annoying thing is that black will appear in some places:
| > . a web page with "fixed" text will be black or dark gray
| > . a alignment page will have the color cartridge banding labeled in
| > black but
| > there isn't a black band at all
| > but not in others:
| > . a test page will have the colored Windows Logo but the files that
are
| > usually listed are not imprinted on the paper - the printer just
| > sounds like it's doing it.
| > A picture (printed to plain paper) that has black in it looks okay.
| >
| > Before I toss the i560 and get a new throwaway I'm looking for some
other
| > avenues for fixing it or finding what's broken. I've been on again off
again
| > trying and ignoring it. I'm pretty sure I've removed and reinstalled it
and
| > the Canon software a few times.
| >
| > Is there some reasonably conclusive way to determine if it's the
printhead
| > or not?
| > I don't know what else to check.
| > At fifty bucks a pop (or there about from what I've seen) I'd hate to
try
| > that and not have that solve the problem.
| >
| > Anyway, sorry if this came out a bit long but I'm not sure what to
provide
| > as clues for getting to the bottom of the issue.
| > TIA for your ideas.
| > Geo. Salisbury
| > Long Valley, NJ
|
| Maybe you could reverse clean that head using a Waterpik over the sink
| at full force with hot water. Or you could flush it from the tank side
| with a syringe and the proper size hose to slip over the inlet. I
| could kick myself for throwing out a Canon printer with a non
| functional head before I learned this technique. Sometimes a bicycle
| hand pump can be used carefully.

hmmm
I'll have to try this.
I have nothing to lose.
I have a new head on order - could arrive today even.
If your suggestions work then I'll have a spare on hand - convenient.
Thx.
Geo.

"IntergalacticExpandingPanda" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in message
news:66c20e75-2d68-437a-9fce-(E-Mail Removed)...
| On Oct 28, 6:06 am, "GSalisbury" <inva...@invalid.net> wrote:
|
| > Not wanting to start a contest but the answer is easy...
| > . the i560 is there in place all wired up - I don't have to do anything.
| > . a repair part can be shipped to me - I don't have to do anything
| > . with four new ink cartridges in place at $10-$20 a pop a $50 head
saves $$
| > . lazy
| > . I like it because I'm used to it and it's all I really need.
| > .
|
| The ultimate choice is yours. You're not likely to see an improvement
| in text on a new iP3600. You are likely to see an increased cost of
| printing black text from 2.5c/page to I think 3.5c/page or so. The
| newest tanks are smaller. Same goes with the older iP3500, about 3c/
| page vs what you currently have 2.5c or so. The i560 is a fine
| printer, and in fact there are current models that employ a similar
| head and resolution. Most important is the ease of aftermarket
| cartridges. Newer models take chips, and while there are resetters
| and replacement chips, aftermarket cartridges will cost more.
|
| A new model is relativly cheap in contrast to the cost of the head.
| There have been marginal improvements to ink longevity, color has
| changed most notable skintones are now more skinny. There is also
| dual trays and CD printing on many new models, though it's not a
| feature enabled in the states, but it can be enabled.
|
| Buy.com has the multifunction mp530 for $90 shipped for a referb, I
| think $130 shipped new.
|
http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/w...2252&pageView=
|
| The canon referb shop also has good deals on replacement products,
| including a referb mp960 for $100 + shipping. They had the ip4200 for
| under $50 plus shipping.
|
| However there are many models which retail for under $100 which cost a
| lot more for the ink. That's the trap to avoid if you can help it.
| That's the case with the MX310, a nice all in one for under $100, but
| smaller tanks.
|
| The choice is yours, new head, about $50, or a new model starting at
| about $80 shipped. There is nothing wrong with either choice.
|
Thank you for you insights - particularly the ink considerations.
I think they pretty much summed up my intuitive position.
I have no real basis for assessing differences in printers per se.

I am aware that, at my [low] level of usage, ink is the true cost but I've
never dwelt upon it because my printing requirements are pretty minimal
(basically a bunch of taxes once-a-year and then casual otherwise).
Whenever anything substantial comes up I usually take it to work and
run it through one of the laser work-horses.

Now, not wanting to abuse the privilege, but I'd be interested in your
general thoughts on replacement/compatible cartridges.

I have never really given them any consideration as I've always just gone to
my nearby Stables and bought when needed. If I've had to do that once or
twice a year is not something that registered.

Your comments about quantity vs page costs has given me some food for
thought.
In practice are "compatible" cartridges generally quote safe to use unquote
on 560's?
Is there actual value in them?
By that meaning is there anything meaningful lost in, say, print quality or
head life...?
Should I look into them as a means to save that much more $$?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Geo.