Epson 3000 Black no print head output at all

I've got and Epson 3000 that I want to covert to B&W, but the black print
head refuses to print, period! The Yellow Magenta and Cyan heads print
flawlessly

I've used windex tricks and everything else I have read. I've disassembled
it, removed the black head, placed it on a windex dampened papertowel, and
also used filtered windex with a gravity flow technique from a piece of
plastic tubing attached to the the inlet and the nozzles aren't blocked at
all with ink or anything else for that matter

Nozzle checks from both the printers control panel and within the printer
utility yeild the same results, not output at all from the black printhead.

Any clues as to the price of a new black print head in Australia, haven't
been able to call Epson during the long weekend, which has been my first
opportunity to go through all of the possible solutions to the problem.

I can't afford to pay for a service, and dont need to when it comes to
assembly disassembly, re-alignment etc, but the dilemma of the source of the
problem is frustrating and buying a new printhead if un-needed wil leave me
short of cash to replace anything else should that not cure the problem.
(I'm short of cash period at the moment-so yet another piece of hardware
malfunctions, isn't it always the way)

BTW I've just been using normal dye based inks so this isn't related to
pigment clogs etc.

The printer thinks it's printing properly, which draws me to the conclusion
that it is most likely the print head, but I don't want to jump to any
incorrect assumptions.

Is there a way to definitively test that the black print head is dead and
not the electronics from the printer internals before I spring for a new
print head, any advice or similar experiences appreciated.

Thanks

Glenn

for replies
mailto:glennrbarry@optusnet.com.au

In article <407a8cd3$0$28242$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>,
glennrbarry@yahoo.com says...
>
>I've got and Epson 3000 that I want to covert to B&W, but the black print
>head refuses to print, period! The Yellow Magenta and Cyan heads print
>flawlessly
>
>I've used windex tricks and everything else I have read. I've disassembled
>it, removed the black head, placed it on a windex dampened papertowel, and
>also used filtered windex with a gravity flow technique from a piece of
>plastic tubing attached to the the inlet and the nozzles aren't blocked at
>all with ink or anything else for that matter
>
>Nozzle checks from both the printers control panel and within the printer
>utility yeild the same results, not output at all from the black printhead.
>
>Any clues as to the price of a new black print head in Australia, haven't
>been able to call Epson during the long weekend, which has been my first
>opportunity to go through all of the possible solutions to the problem.
>
>I can't afford to pay for a service, and dont need to when it comes to
>assembly disassembly, re-alignment etc, but the dilemma of the source of the
>problem is frustrating and buying a new printhead if un-needed wil leave me
>short of cash to replace anything else should that not cure the problem.
>(I'm short of cash period at the moment-so yet another piece of hardware
>malfunctions, isn't it always the way)
>
>BTW I've just been using normal dye based inks so this isn't related to
>pigment clogs etc.
>
>The printer thinks it's printing properly, which draws me to the conclusion
>that it is most likely the print head, but I don't want to jump to any
>incorrect assumptions.
>
>Is there a way to definitively test that the black print head is dead and
>not the electronics from the printer internals before I spring for a new
>print head, any advice or similar experiences appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>
>Glenn
>
>for replies
>mailto:glennrbarry@optusnet.com.au

Check the dampers behind the head remove it attach a large syringe to the
print head size and pull gently, if you don't get ink there is your problem,
but also replace the damper and disconnect the tube running into the damper
and pull there should get ink not matter what. If the damper seems clogged
take distilled water with a little bit of ammonia in it, using a clean syringe
squeeze it through the damper, should clean out, if it doesn't then you need a
new damper. Where to get parts in Australia, don't know, but if you go on the
Epson Wide Format group in Yahoo groups therre are several Aussies there who
should be able to help you.

Tom