Epson Stylus problem

[Miguel]

Hello:

In an old Epson Stylus that I have there is the problem that in several
moments It doesn't take the paper to print, neither one paper, and I have to
push de paper very carefully, and finally the Printer take the paper.

But after a few several papers printed, the paper is being entangled in the
Printer.

Is there the possibility of repair the Printer by myself or I have to send
the printer to an experienced technician?

 

[Jan Alter]

Hello:

In an old Epson Stylus that I have there is the problem that in several
moments It doesn't take the paper to print, neither one paper, and I have
to push de paper very carefully, and finally the Printer take the paper.

But after a few several papers printed, the paper is being entangled in
the Printer.

Is there the possibility of repair the Printer by myself or I have to send
the printer to an experienced technician?

Try cleaning the feed rollers. dust buildup over time can glaze them over so
the paper doesn't get fed evenly. One method to clean them is to either
spray or sponge a sheet of paper with alcohol and then run the paper through
the paper feeder.There is another liquid that I vaguely remember being used
instead of alchol that has the word 'orange' in it, I think, but
unfortunately can't come up with at the moment. Epson also made or probably
still makes a special cleaning paper that it suggests be run through many of
its older printers. Knowing the model number of your stylus might give
information to other readers to what they've done if they had a paper feed
problem with that particular model. Also, below, is a link to what someone
does to clean their R2400.

 

[Miguel]

Try cleaning the feed rollers. dust buildup over time can glaze them over
so the paper doesn't get fed evenly. One method to clean them is to either
spray or sponge a sheet of paper with alcohol and then run the paper
through the paper feeder.There is another liquid that I vaguely remember
being used instead of alchol that has the word 'orange' in it, I think,
but unfortunately can't come up with at the moment. Epson also made or
probably still makes a special cleaning paper that it suggests be run
through many of its older printers. Knowing the model number of your
stylus might give information to other readers to what they've done if
they had a paper feed problem with that particular model. Also, below, is
a link to what someone does to clean their R2400.

--
Jan Alter
(e-mail address removed)
or
(e-mail address removed)12.pa.us

Hello Jan, thanks for your answer, I removed a part of the Printer and I saw
three Rollers, one roller is almost dark, other with a little dark and
another is almost clear.

I'll try to dismantle the printer to try to clean the rolls.

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

But, Miguel: What is the model number?

Richard

 

[Miguel]

But, Miguel: What is the model number?

Richard

Hello, It is of the model 800

In your opinion, for personal use only, which do you think is the best
Inkjet Printer, in price, and cost of original black cartridge?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

The problem you discuss is relatively common for people who either use a
lot of coated paper (especially thicker weights) in their printer, or
after years of use.

A bit about paper misfeeds:

Misfeeds can manifest as the printer running paper through without
printing on it (this occurs when the paper arrives late due to slippage,
so it is rejected by the printer), or several attempts at feeding the
paper without success and then the driver and printer shutting down
(into pause mode), or when you find you have to help the printer to get
the paper to grab, or where the printer only will work for a few pages
until the paper begins to slip, or the paper tends to feed on an angle
and get damaged or jammed.

Most often, the problem is caused by glazing of the pickup paper feed
wheels. Some papers use coating such as kaolin clay, which is very
slippery, to create the special inkjet surface. As this surface rubs
onto the paper feeding and pick up wheels, the paper slips more and more
often, until it either caused the above mentioned symptoms, or the paper
feeds crookedly and may even get jammed in the printer.

To clean the rollers, take a piece of blotter paper or other
semi-absorbent uncoated stock (watercolor paper, for instance) which is
thin enough to go through the printer, but heavy enough to hold some
liquid and not fall apart, and lightly spray one side with either
isopropyl alcohol or ammoniated window cleaner. Avoid the very edge of
the paper, so it remains firm enough to allow for proper feeding. Send
it through the printer several times, flipping it each time so the wet
surface changes from top to bottom to top, etc., using the paper load
buttons on the front of the printer. This usually picks up and removes
residue from slick paper surfaces which may come off onto rollers, old
ink, etc. This also can help in cases where the take-up paper feed
wheels have become glazed with inkjet paper coatings, and the paper is
either not feeding at all or entering the printer on an angle.

After doing this procedure, be sure to run several pages of scrap bond
paper through the printer to remove excess cleaner and dry the rollers
fully prior to using the printer with higher quality paper.

If the paper feed rollers are very glazed, you may wish to use the
cleaning fluid mentioned previously on a foam rubber cosmetic swab, and
clean each pick up roller (there are usually two of them) within the
printer just inside of the paper feed area. These areas often have a
mylar plastic shield which may need to be moved to get to the wheel for
cleaning.

Again, after cleaning, run several pieces of scrap bond paper through to
dry all the roller well, so your better papers aren't ruined, or don't
transfer excessive coating back onto those rollers.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

There are a number of rubber rejuvenators on the market. They almost
all use orange/citrus oil or the chemical equivalent (D-limonene). It
is a pretty "corrosive" product, which can damage non-rubber (plastic)
items by melting and crazing them. Also, it can damage some artificial
rubbers which are petroleum based.

For these reasons, I tend to not recommend it. It does a good job with
rubber, but so many components in printers are plastics, and some very
integrated with the paper feed rollers, that I just don't feel
comfortable pushing it.

Ammoniated window cleaner and isopropyl alcohol both are not as
effective, and some will tell you that with continued exposure of
isopropyl alcohol to rubber can dry or make it brittle, but occasional
use seems to have little damaging effect.

Art

From Wikipedia:

Limonene is a hydrocarbon, classed as a terpene. It is a colourless
liquid at room temperatures with an extremely strong smell of oranges.
It takes its name from the lemon, as the rind of the lemon, like other
citrus fruits, contains considerable amounts of this chemical compound,
which is responsible for much of their smell. Limonene is a chiral
molecule, and as is common with such forms, biological sources produce
one specific enantiomer: the principal industrial source, citrus fruit,
contains D-limonene ((+)-limonene), which is the (R)-enantiomer (CAS
number 5989-27-5, EINECS number 227-813-5). Racemic limonene is known as
dipentene.[1]

....

Limonene is increasingly being used as as a solvent for cleaning
purposes, such as the removal of oil from machine parts, as it is
produced from a renewable source (citrus oil, as a byproduct of orange
juice manufacture.) Limonene works as paint stripper when applied to
painted wood. The (R)-enantiomer is also used as botanical insecticide.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Tonight I posted a process for cleaning the paper feed rollers which do
not require you to dismantle anything, or to even have to determine
exactly which rollers are involved in the paper feeding process.

I recommend against dismantling the printer to accomplish this cleaning.
It is not necessary, and it sometime leads to other problems, that can
be avoided by using the techniques I suggest.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Is this a Stylus 800 or a Stylus Color 800?

The 800 is a black and white only printer, and is over 10 years old.
The SC 800 is a color model about 7 years old.

The SC800/850 models are pretty robust printers, and cheap to run
because you can very easily refill the cartridges and buy them for a
buck or two on ebay.

The cartridges are quite large. It even can print at 1400 dpi.

The only problems are, it is noisy and the cleaning cycle is very long
and slow.

If you are speaking about the original Stylus 800, that is a very old
model, and I have no experience with it but I suspect, although slow, it
probably is pretty reliable.

Contact me in private email and we can "speak" more about this if you
like. I may have some resources that can help you.

Art


e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) = .

 

[Miguel]

The problem you discuss is relatively common for people who either use a
lot of coated paper (especially thicker weights) in their printer, or
after years of use.

A bit about paper misfeeds:

Misfeeds can manifest as the printer running paper through without
printing on it (this occurs when the paper arrives late due to slippage,
so it is rejected by the printer), or several attempts at feeding the
paper without success and then the driver and printer shutting down
(into pause mode), or when you find you have to help the printer to get
the paper to grab, or where the printer only will work for a few pages
until the paper begins to slip, or the paper tends to feed on an angle
and get damaged or jammed.

Most often, the problem is caused by glazing of the pickup paper feed
wheels. Some papers use coating such as kaolin clay, which is very
slippery, to create the special inkjet surface. As this surface rubs
onto the paper feeding and pick up wheels, the paper slips more and more
often, until it either caused the above mentioned symptoms, or the paper
feeds crookedly and may even get jammed in the printer.

To clean the rollers, take a piece of blotter paper or other
semi-absorbent uncoated stock (watercolor paper, for instance) which is
thin enough to go through the printer, but heavy enough to hold some
liquid and not fall apart, and lightly spray one side with either
isopropyl alcohol or ammoniated window cleaner. Avoid the very edge of
the paper, so it remains firm enough to allow for proper feeding. Send
it through the printer several times, flipping it each time so the wet
surface changes from top to bottom to top, etc., using the paper load
buttons on the front of the printer. This usually picks up and removes
residue from slick paper surfaces which may come off onto rollers, old
ink, etc. This also can help in cases where the take-up paper feed
wheels have become glazed with inkjet paper coatings, and the paper is
either not feeding at all or entering the printer on an angle.

After doing this procedure, be sure to run several pages of scrap bond
paper through the printer to remove excess cleaner and dry the rollers
fully prior to using the printer with higher quality paper.

If the paper feed rollers are very glazed, you may wish to use the
cleaning fluid mentioned previously on a foam rubber cosmetic swab, and
clean each pick up roller (there are usually two of them) within the
printer just inside of the paper feed area. These areas often have a
mylar plastic shield which may need to be moved to get to the wheel for
cleaning.

Again, after cleaning, run several pieces of scrap bond paper through to
dry all the roller well, so your better papers aren't ruined, or don't
transfer excessive coating back onto those rollers.

Art

Thanks for your answers Arthur.

 

[akiley]

Just a general note from an Epson R2400 user on cleaning and streaking
and uneven print problems. I got very bad streaks on my prints.
Small prints didn't seem to be effected as badly. I did the head
cleaning / pattern check probably 15 times over a few days and also
alignment utility. I tried the alcohol / window cleaner on the ink
tips that poke into the cartridges, I tried cleaning the rollers,
taking all the cartridges out one by one and shaking them gently. I
replaced just about every cartridge during the process. Nothing
worked.

I was about to send it out for repair because I couldn't fix it
myself. Then I made a discovery. Maybe it's my aging eyes that
caused me not to notice at first.

I looked very closely with a bright light and noticed a pool of ink on
the far LEFT side of the carriage. There is also a small collection
sponge on that left side. Not sure why it pooled there, but I dabbed
it up and my prints have been steak free ever since.

I haven't found this mentioned in the newsgroups I've searched.
Cleaning the rollers is sort of the answer, but just thought I'd drop
this note for anyone listening.

Notice I made sure I included lots of keywords so a search can easily
fine this thread. .... akiley

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Thanks for providing this information. This situation is discussed in
the Epson Cleaning Manual I provide free of charge when people request
it via email.

I refer to this area to the left of the carriage as "the spittoon".

Newer Epson printers have two different cleaning areas. The cleaning
station which is to the right, and where the heads come to rest when the
printer is finished with a print, or when it shuts down. That area has
a specially designed pad which has a rubber bumper around it, and it is
spring loaded. The pad presses against the head area and surrounds the
nozzles. Then during a cleaning cycle, there is a vacuum pump engaged
which sucks air until a vacuum is created to the printing surface of the
head. The idea being that this vacuum will pull out any dried or
thickened ink plugs from the surface of the nozzles and pull fresh ink
down through the head from the cartridges. This waste ink the goes down
a tube and is "milked" out to some waste ink pads at the base of the
printer.

However, as mentioned, there is a second area to the left of the
carriage. Usually this area is not a pad, but just a funnel shaped
drain that also leads to the waste ink pads at the base of the printer.

Every few swipes of the head one of the heads will pulse all the
nozzles and squirt a small amount of ink into this drain. Each head
takes "turns" doing this. The idea is that this keep the heads clear
during printing to try to avoid a clog in the middle of a printing process.

This "spittoon" should be self draining as the waste ink drips into the
waste ink pads, but, it tends to clog up over time as the ink dries on
the surface of the plastic sides and builds up until it seals off
completely. Then it tends to fill up with ink and overflow, and rather
than helping to keep the head clean, the head begins to pick up
thickened ink from it.

In most cases, if you take some cotton swabs you can drain out the
excess ink, and then see the way to the bottom, which probably just has
a clogged hole in it rather than a pad. However, since I don't have the
service manuals for every model, it is possible there may be a pad in
some models, so be gentle and don't try to force a drainage hole if you
meet resistance. Instead add some cleaning fluid to the solidified ink
and see if you can dissolve through the sludge.

If you wish a copy of my Epson Cleaning Manual, email me at:

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) = .

Please mention your printer model in your email.

Art

 

[Miguel]

Thanks for providing this information. This situation is discussed in the
Epson Cleaning Manual I provide free of charge when people request it via
email.

I refer to this area to the left of the carriage as "the spittoon".

Newer Epson printers have two different cleaning areas. The cleaning
station which is to the right, and where the heads come to rest when the
printer is finished with a print, or when it shuts down. That area has a
specially designed pad which has a rubber bumper around it, and it is
spring loaded. The pad presses against the head area and surrounds the
nozzles. Then during a cleaning cycle, there is a vacuum pump engaged
which sucks air until a vacuum is created to the printing surface of the
head. The idea being that this vacuum will pull out any dried or
thickened ink plugs from the surface of the nozzles and pull fresh ink
down through the head from the cartridges. This waste ink the goes down a
tube and is "milked" out to some waste ink pads at the base of the
printer.

However, as mentioned, there is a second area to the left of the carriage.
Usually this area is not a pad, but just a funnel shaped drain that also
leads to the waste ink pads at the base of the printer.

Every few swipes of the head one of the heads will pulse all the nozzles
and squirt a small amount of ink into this drain. Each head takes "turns"
doing this. The idea is that this keep the heads clear during printing to
try to avoid a clog in the middle of a printing process.

This "spittoon" should be self draining as the waste ink drips into the
waste ink pads, but, it tends to clog up over time as the ink dries on the
surface of the plastic sides and builds up until it seals off completely.
Then it tends to fill up with ink and overflow, and rather than helping to
keep the head clean, the head begins to pick up thickened ink from it.

In most cases, if you take some cotton swabs you can drain out the excess
ink, and then see the way to the bottom, which probably just has a clogged
hole in it rather than a pad. However, since I don't have the service
manuals for every model, it is possible there may be a pad in some models,
so be gentle and don't try to force a drainage hole if you meet
resistance. Instead add some cleaning fluid to the solidified ink and see
if you can dissolve through the sludge.

If you wish a copy of my Epson Cleaning Manual, email me at:

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) = .

Please mention your printer model in your email.

Art

Thanks for all your answers.