Epson 890 head issue

M

Mike Benz

I have an Epson 890. I had an issue where the heads kept getting clogged due
to not enuf use. I used the suggestions of a few poeple on this group to
clean them and it worked fine. I now get good nozzel checks. The issue I am
having now is when I print in photo quality or a higher resolution than
360dpi, I get thin magenta and/or cyan lines going thru the prints. I have
tried the cleaning processes over again and they come and go. I have even
gone so far as to take the heads off and clean them with a paper towel
soaked in windex. I have let the printer sit for days to make sure there is
no cleaning solution left and have run purge print jobs several times using
a special .jpg to print each color seperately yet the lines still appear at
resolutions above 360.

I am assuming the print heads are just shot and need replacing. Anyone ever
experience this? Can anyone tell me where I can order new print heads for
this printer? They are simple to replace so I can do it myself. I like this
printer and really don't want to replace it if I can avoid it.

TIA

Mike...
 
P

puss

I have an Epson 890. I had an issue where the heads kept getting clogged due
to not enuf use. I used the suggestions of a few poeple on this group to
clean them and it worked fine. I now get good nozzel checks. The issue I am
having now is when I print in photo quality or a higher resolution than
360dpi, I get thin magenta and/or cyan lines going thru the prints. I have
tried the cleaning processes over again and they come and go. I have even
gone so far as to take the heads off and clean them with a paper towel
soaked in windex. I have let the printer sit for days to make sure there is
no cleaning solution left and have run purge print jobs several times using
a special .jpg to print each color seperately yet the lines still appear at
resolutions above 360.

I am assuming the print heads are just shot and need replacing. Anyone ever
experience this? Can anyone tell me where I can order new print heads for
this printer? They are simple to replace so I can do it myself. I like this
printer and really don't want to replace it if I can avoid it.

TIA

Mike...
Click to expand...



Soak the print head in 2mmn of Windex or in my case Spray and Wipe, this is
way stronger, for say 1 hour, then do it again and then again 2 times with
clean water, the dry off with some tissues.

You only soak the face of the print head..

This should fully clean the print head..
 
A

Arthur Entlich

Hi Mike,

Unfortunately, the defect you describe is way to common, and does appear
to be something requiring head replacement. In spite of considerable
research and having two EEs look over the service manuals and the
schematics (as much as Epson releases), no one has yet come up with an
explanation of the cause of this nor what, if anything, can be done to
fix the problem. There are a number of theories.

I suspect Epson knows the cause but in years past (I don't know what
their current tact is) they denied even having seen such a problem. I
know of several hundred cases, at least.

If you wish to do it fully correctly, head replacement requires a
special program from Epson. One part is a series of tests that help you
to make geometric adjustments, and you could do this without the
program, although the program puts the printer through a series of
printed test charts that explain what adjustments the head requires.

The second part allows for fine tuning the head so that each piezo
activator is adjusted for voltage levels to equalize them. I am not
sure why this is required. It may help keep the head from wearing as
quickly, or it may alter ink flow for each nozzle or even effect timing
of the dot release.

I do not know who would offer parts in your area, check with an Epson
repair depot.

Art
 
A

Arthur Entlich

Soak the print head in 2mmn of Windex or in my case Spray and Wipe,
this is way stronger, for say 1 hour, then do it again and then again
2 times with clean water, the dry off with some tissues.

You only soak the face of the print head..

This should fully clean the print head..
Click to expand...

And if these instructions correct the "stuck nozzle" problem with
magenta (or other color) lines on the print, I'd love to know about it. ;-)

Art
 
P

puss

And if these instructions correct the "stuck nozzle" problem with
magenta (or other color) lines on the print, I'd love to know about it. ;-)

Art
Click to expand...



The problem is a partial clog of the print head, as it not been fully cleaned.

Fully cleaning the print head should restore it.
 
A

Arthur Entlich

Here's a quote from the original posting:

"I now get good nozzel checks. The issue I am
having now is when I print in photo quality or a higher resolution than
360dpi, I get thin magenta and/or cyan lines going thru the prints."


Assuming this description is correct, it appears to be describing a
very common problem with failed Epson heads. One or more nozzles prints
continually, through the print, and even into the margins. It typically
starts intermittently and then becomes permanent. It happens only in
the higher resolution printing. This problem seems to have developed
when Epson moved to the 1440 dpi and beyond printing modes, (I have
never heard of a case in printers which go up to 720 dpi only) and it
has been one which effects many printers over time. Epson has yet to
admit to the problem, to my knowledge, however, I have hundreds of cases
on file now. It is most common in the 1270/870 and 1290/890 printers,
but it occurs in others as well.

I have worked with two EEs in trying to isolate the exact cause, and I
have dissected several Epson print heads which have this problem in
trying to find the root of it.

The print head is composed of two units. The head itself which houses
the piezo actuators, the ink channels, and the ink nipple which is where
the ink is fed from the cartridge to the head. Then there is a separate
circuit board which has several surface mounted ICs and resistors on it
which is called the nozzle selector circuit. This circuit board
connects via an edge connector to the ribbon cables from the logic
circuits that send the printing data through them. It then goes through
the nozzle selection circuit and the information is distributed to the
appropriate piezos and nozzles. This data is carried through a very thin
flexible circuit board, which is made up of one path per nozzle which is
soldered between the circuit board and the head which contains the piezos.

As close as I have been able to determine, corrosion, or changes of
current values, or shorts or breaks in this thin foil connection cause
some of the nozzles to be "stuck" in the "on" position, making one or
more of them print continually.

The lines are typically magenta, cyan or black, in that order, and are
one nozzle thickness thick, and they go right across the paper including
into the margins. No amount of cleaning seems to fix it.

Since you have stated you have a friend who works for Epson or at a
service depot that repairs Epson printers, would you ask him/her how to
repair heads that do this, or what is the exact cause? I have been
unable to get Epson to acknowledge the problem or come up with any
solution other than a head replacement. It is the #2 issue with Epson
printers with clogs being #1, and paper feed issues being #3.

Art
 
O

Ototin

If you wish to do it fully correctly, head replacement requires a
special program from Epson. One part is a series of tests that help you
to make geometric adjustments, and you could do this without the
program, although the program puts the printer through a series of
printed test charts that explain what adjustments the head requires.
Click to expand...

The Stylus Photo 890 does not require mechanical adjustment of the
print head.

The only adjustment required when replacing the print head is to input
the print head I.D., it's a 13 alphanumeric character.
 
A

Arthur Entlich

Ototin said:
The Stylus Photo 890 does not require mechanical adjustment of the
print head.
Click to expand...

So Epson has finally developed a way to hold tolerances well enough to
not require head geometry adjustments? That's good to hear. Many of
those adjustments were required due to separate black and colored heads,
which have been integrated in the newer printers. Of course, that also
means that if any of the head fails, the whole thing requires
replacement, but maybe that lowered overall costs.
The only adjustment required when replacing the print head is to input
the print head I.D., it's a 13 alphanumeric character.
Click to expand...

Neat! Of course, one still needs to locate a copy of the program.

Art
 
T

tristan

How do you un-mount the heads on the 890 ?

it does not seem to be obvious (and apparently epson does not make it
easy for people to take the heads off on this printer)...

What screws/screws must be taken off ? any hint would be welcome!
 
T

tristan

ok, I managed to un-mount the heads.

but the soaking in windex (even in HOT windex) did not un-clog the
heads. Is there a way to purchase a replacement head for this printer
?
 
W

William Bell

ok, I managed to un-mount the heads.

but the soaking in windex (even in HOT windex) did not un-clog the
heads. Is there a way to purchase a replacement head for this printer
?
Click to expand...



I used Spray n'Wipe a far better product, used out of the bottle 1000 time
stronger than Windex, its a surface cleaner with detergent and Ammonia..

Used say 2mm in a flat tray with the face of the head in it, you could see
the ink coming out strait away, moved the head up and down a little to help.

Did this for one hour, then again for one hour, then again twice with Warm one
hour each.

Wiped clean with a tissue..


Took some 5-6 cleaning cycle with new tanks to get it to print..
 
A

Arthur Entlich

What kind of ink were you using?

If you haven't cooked or drown the heads and you haven't yet tried my
cleaning manual for Epsons you might want to give it a go.

Just email me and request a copy. Usually, following my instructions
and recommended cleaner mix, and a bit of patience ends up with a
unclogged printer head.

Replacement Epson print heads 1) cost about 70-80% of the cost of a
replacement printer

2) Require some mechanical and electronic adjustments and special
software to do it or you have to pay a service depot to do it, which
really makes it costly.

Art
 
A

Arthur Entlich

Can you be more specific about this product. I found literally over a
dozen different products all called Spray n' Wipe. Apparently, this is
not a trademarked name, so it would be great to know the manufacturer or
the brand name. In looking over the different products, they vary
considerably in their components. Some are ammoniated, some contain
detergents, so citrus oils, some gycol ethers, etc, so it would be very
helpful to know the specific product you are using.

Art
 
W

William Bell

Can you be more specific about this product. I found literally over a
dozen different products all called Spray n' Wipe. Apparently, this is
not a trademarked name, so it would be great to know the manufacturer or
the brand name. In looking over the different products, they vary
considerably in their components. Some are ammoniated, some contain
detergents, so citrus oils, some gycol ethers, etc, so it would be very
helpful to know the specific product you are using.

Art
Click to expand...


AJax Spray n' Wipe., Colgate Palmolive..
 
A

Arthur Entlich

Thank you.

I did see their product as one that was listed under the Spray 'N Wipe name.

Art
 

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