A couple of questions on the Epson 1520

Superb printer, but I've got the usual paper feed problems (I guess
mine's getting on a bit - bought it second-user). I would like to have
a go at sorting the problem for myself by stripping the printer down and
sourcing new parts. Has any one done this? Is it an easy job - need
special tools? Where did you get the service manual from? In fact, any
help, tips or advice would be most welcome.

Can anyone recommend a brand of compatible ink carts?

Many thanks
PL

PL wrote:
> Superb printer, but I've got the usual paper feed problems (I guess
> mine's getting on a bit - bought it second-user). I would like to have
> a go at sorting the problem for myself by stripping the printer down and
> sourcing new parts. Has any one done this? Is it an easy job - need
> special tools? Where did you get the service manual from? In fact, any
> help, tips or advice would be most welcome.
>
> Can anyone recommend a brand of compatible ink carts?
>
> Many thanks
> PL
>
>
Ok, I've found the manual (thanks to zakezuke's post above - Service
Manuals...) so, I'm now interested in feedback on attempting the job
myself. (...plus the carts)

Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's paper
feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's just not
picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being picked up
too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not need to stripe
down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely just oem glazed
pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of judicious cleaning.

Art

PL wrote:

> PL wrote:
>
>> Superb printer, but I've got the usual paper feed problems (I guess
>> mine's getting on a bit - bought it second-user). I would like to
>> have a go at sorting the problem for myself by stripping the printer
>> down and sourcing new parts. Has any one done this? Is it an easy
>> job - need special tools? Where did you get the service manual from?
>> In fact, any help, tips or advice would be most welcome.
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a brand of compatible ink carts?
>>
>> Many thanks
>> PL
>>
>>
> Ok, I've found the manual (thanks to zakezuke's post above - Service
> Manuals...) so, I'm now interested in feedback on attempting the job
> myself. (...plus the carts)

Arthur Entlich wrote:
> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's paper
> feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's just not
> picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being picked up
> too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not need to stripe
> down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely just oem glazed
> pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of judicious cleaning.
>
> Art
>

Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem, but
as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand side.
It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally results
in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished plot. Once in
a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence causing the paper to
jam.

The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get at
them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?

Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
it... I've been swamped)

To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the wheels
and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight absorbent
paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or less a
large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one side of
it and then feed it through the printer several times without printing
on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol evaporates, spray the
other side and do the same thing. This may be enough to clean the many
wheels and the rubber tires.

Art

PL wrote:

> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>
>> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's paper
>> feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's just
>> not picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being picked
>> up too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not need to
>> stripe down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely just oem
>> glazed pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of judicious cleaning.
>>
>> Art
>>
>
> Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem, but
> as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand side.
> It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally results
> in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished plot. Once in
> a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence causing the paper to
> jam.
>
> The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get at
> them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?

Arthur Entlich wrote:
> Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
> down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
> it... I've been swamped)
>
> To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the wheels
> and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight absorbent
> paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or less a
> large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one side of
> it and then feed it through the printer several times without printing
> on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol evaporates, spray the
> other side and do the same thing. This may be enough to clean the many
> wheels and the rubber tires.
>
> Art
>
> PL wrote:
>
>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>
>>> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's
>>> paper feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's
>>> just not picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being
>>> picked up too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not
>>> need to stripe down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely
>>> just oem glazed pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of
>>> judicious cleaning.
>>>
>>> Art
>>>
>>
>> Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem, but
>> as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand side.
>> It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally results
>> in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished plot. Once
>> in a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence causing the
>> paper to jam.
>>
>> The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get
>> at them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?

I'll try out the cleaning process you suggest and, in due course will
take you up your kind offer regarding the specific problem.

Just one thing Art. I remember reading, somewhere, that isopropyl
alcohol shouldn't be used on the rubber rollers. IIRC, whilst it is a
good short term fix, long term it hardens/glazes the rubber and
exacerbates the problem of paper pickup?

Regarding the DIY aspect, I was thinking more in terms of replacing
those 'worn-out(?)' rollers. Is that a big task?

Once again, thanks.

In message <IH9ye.1863754$Xk.253556@pd7tw3no>, Arthur Entlich
<e-printerhelp@mvps.org> writes
>Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
>down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
>it... I've been swamped)
>
>To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the wheels
>and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight absorbent
>paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or less a
>large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one side of
>it and then feed it through the printer several times without printing
>on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol evaporates, spray
>the other side and do the same thing. This may be enough to clean the
>many wheels and the rubber tires.
>
I haven't used inkjets for about 5/6 years now, but I remember that when
I bought a pack of Epson coated inkjet paper it would have a cleaning
sheet with it and when feeding that through it would pickup a fair bit
of muck. Do they still do that, or can you buy them separately.

--
Timothy

There is some controversy about using isopropyl on synthetic rubber
parts, but I don't really know of a better alternative. SOme people
have suggested using a "rubber restorer" made of orange oil compounds,
which slightly dissolves the rubber/plastic.

If you find a better cleaning agent, let me know... I'm certainly up for
a better solution.

Regarding ease of changing the rubber rollers, I honestly don't know
without looking into the manual, and i have no idea about availability
of parts, even if you could do so easily.

Art


PL wrote:

> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>
>> Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
>> down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
>> it... I've been swamped)
>>
>> To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the
>> wheels and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight
>> absorbent paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or
>> less a large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one
>> side of it and then feed it through the printer several times without
>> printing on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol
>> evaporates, spray the other side and do the same thing. This may be
>> enough to clean the many wheels and the rubber tires.
>>
>> Art
>>
>> PL wrote:
>>
>>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>>
>>>> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's
>>>> paper feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's
>>>> just not picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being
>>>> picked up too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not
>>>> need to stripe down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely
>>>> just oem glazed pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of
>>>> judicious cleaning.
>>>>
>>>> Art
>>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem,
>>> but as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand
>>> side. It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally
>>> results in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished
>>> plot. Once in a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence
>>> causing the paper to jam.
>>>
>>> The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get
>>> at them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?
>
>
> I'll try out the cleaning process you suggest and, in due course will
> take you up your kind offer regarding the specific problem.
>
> Just one thing Art. I remember reading, somewhere, that isopropyl
> alcohol shouldn't be used on the rubber rollers. IIRC, whilst it is a
> good short term fix, long term it hardens/glazes the rubber and
> exacerbates the problem of paper pickup?
>
> Regarding the DIY aspect, I was thinking more in terms of replacing
> those 'worn-out(?)' rollers. Is that a big task?
>
> Once again, thanks.

As I recall the discussions from several years ago about rollers slipping on
some lasers was that many users found brake fluid helped to restore the grip
to feed rollers. I never had a need to try it out, so I don't know how
successful it would be.
--
Ron

"Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:HxQye.167256$El.74245@pd7tw1no...
> There is some controversy about using isopropyl on synthetic rubber parts,
> but I don't really know of a better alternative. SOme people have
> suggested using a "rubber restorer" made of orange oil compounds, which
> slightly dissolves the rubber/plastic.
>
> If you find a better cleaning agent, let me know... I'm certainly up for a
> better solution.
>
> Regarding ease of changing the rubber rollers, I honestly don't know
> without looking into the manual, and i have no idea about availability of
> parts, even if you could do so easily.
>
> Art
>
>
> PL wrote:
>
>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>
>>> Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
>>> down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
>>> it... I've been swamped)
>>>
>>> To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the wheels
>>> and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight absorbent
>>> paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or less a
>>> large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one side of
>>> it and then feed it through the printer several times without printing
>>> on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol evaporates, spray the
>>> other side and do the same thing. This may be enough to clean the many
>>> wheels and the rubber tires.
>>>
>>> Art
>>>
>>> PL wrote:
>>>
>>>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's paper
>>>>> feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's just
>>>>> not picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being picked
>>>>> up too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not need to
>>>>> stripe down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely just oem
>>>>> glazed pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of judicious
>>>>> cleaning.
>>>>>
>>>>> Art
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem, but
>>>> as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand side.
>>>> It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally results
>>>> in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished plot. Once
>>>> in a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence causing the
>>>> paper to jam.
>>>>
>>>> The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get at
>>>> them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?
>>
>>
>> I'll try out the cleaning process you suggest and, in due course will
>> take you up your kind offer regarding the specific problem.
>>
>> Just one thing Art. I remember reading, somewhere, that isopropyl
>> alcohol shouldn't be used on the rubber rollers. IIRC, whilst it is a
>> good short term fix, long term it hardens/glazes the rubber and
>> exacerbates the problem of paper pickup?
>>
>> Regarding the DIY aspect, I was thinking more in terms of replacing those
>> 'worn-out(?)' rollers. Is that a big task?
>>
>> Once again, thanks.

Art - Many years ago I had a commercial grade copy machine in my office that
required on-site periodic maintenance. When the technician serviced the
machine he cleaned the rollers with cigarette lighter fluid! Worked quite
well. It cleaned off the dust and any lint that probably came from the
paper and also gave the rubber surface some "tooth". I kept a container in
the office and used it occasionally when the feed rollers needed cleaning.
I don't know if this is advisable on today's roller material.


"Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:HxQye.167256$El.74245@pd7tw1no...
> There is some controversy about using isopropyl on synthetic rubber parts,
> but I don't really know of a better alternative. SOme people have
> suggested using a "rubber restorer" made of orange oil compounds, which
> slightly dissolves the rubber/plastic.
>
> If you find a better cleaning agent, let me know... I'm certainly up for a
> better solution.
>
> Regarding ease of changing the rubber rollers, I honestly don't know
> without looking into the manual, and i have no idea about availability of
> parts, even if you could do so easily.
>
> Art
>
>
> PL wrote:
>
>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>
>>> Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
>>> down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
>>> it... I've been swamped)
>>>
>>> To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the wheels
>>> and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight absorbent
>>> paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or less a
>>> large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one side of
>>> it and then feed it through the printer several times without printing
>>> on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol evaporates, spray the
>>> other side and do the same thing. This may be enough to clean the many
>>> wheels and the rubber tires.
>>>
>>> Art
>>>
>>> PL wrote:
>>>
>>>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's paper
>>>>> feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's just
>>>>> not picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being picked
>>>>> up too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not need to
>>>>> stripe down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely just oem
>>>>> glazed pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of judicious
>>>>> cleaning.
>>>>>
>>>>> Art
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem, but
>>>> as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand side.
>>>> It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally results
>>>> in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished plot. Once
>>>> in a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence causing the
>>>> paper to jam.
>>>>
>>>> The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get at
>>>> them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?
>>
>>
>> I'll try out the cleaning process you suggest and, in due course will
>> take you up your kind offer regarding the specific problem.
>>
>> Just one thing Art. I remember reading, somewhere, that isopropyl
>> alcohol shouldn't be used on the rubber rollers. IIRC, whilst it is a
>> good short term fix, long term it hardens/glazes the rubber and
>> exacerbates the problem of paper pickup?
>>
>> Regarding the DIY aspect, I was thinking more in terms of replacing those
>> 'worn-out(?)' rollers. Is that a big task?
>>
>> Once again, thanks.