Getting into a mess trying to re-fill my Canon BCI-3e series tanks ... :-/

[Mary Sunshine]

Hello!

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me here.

I'm just getting into a real mess trying to re-ink the tanks for my
Canon S750 printer.

Ink keeps pouring out the bottom of the tank, even after I have
refilled the filling hole with bathtub silicone seal, and duct-taped
it.

Also, there is a tiny hole at the other end of the top of the tank (on
the same surface as the re-fill hole) that leaks ink after I have
about half re-filled the tank.

Have I ruined my tank now?

What should i have been doing?

Thank you for any possible help here! I don't want to quit now, but
don't know what to do next.

M.S.

 

[Ron Cohen]

These are instruction I've posted a bunch of times. I doubt that the tanks
are ruined. Reading the instructions will most likely give you an idea where
your refilling efforts went south. If you will send me a private email, I
can send you a pdf file with these instructions and a couple of photos that
show the refilled cartridges.
BCI-3 and BCI-6 are about the easiest of tanks to refill. Instruction are
available on just about any refill suppliers web site, however they make
refilling sound more difficult than necessary. I refill BCI-3 (as used on
the i850) and BCI-6 tanks as used on the s820 and i950. Physically the color
tanks are the same, but with different ink formulations. The black tank on
the BCI-3 is a different size cartridge, but the same refill technique
applies.

Below is the quick and easy way to refill.

1. If you still have the original caps that covered the ink outlet, put
them back on and hold them tightly in place with a strong rubber band. If
you don't have the caps, a spot of thick cloth duct tape will work just fine
to seal over the outlet. Make sure it is thick cloth duct tape. Other tapes
just don't have the sealing capacity of the duct tape. This is a critical
part of the refilling process. If a seal isn't made, ink will run out when
an opening is made for the ink syringe. Think of it like a soda straw with
water. It doesn't leak while you have your finger on top to make a seal.
This seal should stay in place until the tanks are ready to be put back in
the printer. The only other reason to remove the seal would be to insure
that the tank doesn't drip any ink after the refill is complete.

2. Once the outlet is sealed you need to make an opening to insert a
syringe. I use disposable syringes available at any pharmacy. Tell them you
want the biggest, meanest needle they have since it is for ink refilling and
you shouldn't have a problem purchasing them. Get one for each color and
label it. The last ones I bought were 23¢ each. The web site instructions
will tell you to peel back the label on top and punch out the sealing plug
on top. DON'T DO IT. There are three ways much easier than that.
a.- Near the rear of the top on the reservoir side, drill a small
hole just big enough for a fine thread screw which will be used as a seal.
If you can find small nylon thumbscrews at a hardware store, they would be
easier to use than either a set screw or machine screw.
or
b.- Heat a paper clip hot enough to melt a hole in the top. Use hot
melt glue to reseal.
or my favorite method -
c.- On the side of the reservoir about 3/16" below the top make two
small holes with a push pin (or hot paper clip). One hole is for filling,
but it will probably be too small for air to escape. That's what the second
hole is for. If an air escape isn't provided either with a second hole or
one large enough like the ones using a screw or hot melt glue, ink will be
forced out the vent on the area above the sponge (I found out the hard way).
To reseal these two small holes, use a small piece of duct tape. I've used
all three methods and this is the easiest one.

That's all there is to it. It isn't rocket science.

 

[Mary Sunshine]

Thank you so very much! If I experience any further difficulty I will
no doubt email you.

M.S.

P.S. I did google my brains out searching for this info, but found
nothing as detailed as what you just described.

These are instruction I've posted a bunch of times. I doubt that the tanks
are ruined. Reading the instructions will most likely give you an idea where
your refilling efforts went south. If you will send me a private email, I
can send you a pdf file with these instructions and a couple of photos that
show the refilled cartridges.

[snip excellent instructions & explanations]

 

[Angelo Campanella]

These are instruction I've posted a bunch of times. I doubt that the tanks
are ruined. Reading the instructions will most likely give you an idea where
your refilling efforts went south. If you will send me a private email, I
can send you a pdf file with these instructions and a couple of photos that
show the refilled cartridges.
BCI-3 and BCI-6 are about the easiest of tanks to refill. Instruction are

With BCI-21 for the BJ2100, I have settled on the following:

1- The "Tank" is really a felt block type pad that holds (wicks)
maybe 3cc (each color) to 5cc (black) of ink fluid. Don't try to
"fill" any of these "tanks" because any will flood and run out
the bottom where each color exit mates with the respective print
head entry, a 1/8" diameter sintered metal lozenge sort of entry
port thingy.

2- The sintered entry port to each print galley has a rubber
seal around it which, I fear, worsens the more times it is
opened. That is, I think it better to NOT remove any cartridge
from the print head for any purpose whatsoever.

3- My recent refills have been into a brand new $50.oo printed,
now used a bit, carrying a black and a tri-color cartridges,
never extracted from the print head.

4- I have removed the plastic cover-case for free access at any
time (and an early preview of all prints are they are evolved).

5- With a moto-tool, I drilled the recommended 1/8" holes into
each of the four cells while they are still mounted in the print
head carriage. For black, yellow and red, I drilled into the top
front face just below the seam, and inward about 1/4" until a
bit of colored fritt emerged. For Blue, I went straight down
3/8" until some blue fritt emerged. I now tape over those holes
with sticky scotch tape.

6- With a calibrated hypo needle (one for each color), I am
adding a cc or two at a time of each color, and 2 to 3 of black
as I intuitively believe I should replenish. I also add Windex
fluid to the tune of about 5% volume to the black ink "to keep
the pipes clean" (no further justification known or sought!).

7- FWIW, the "cleaning" cycles gobbles ink and trashes onto a
huge felt pad laid in the bottom right side of the printer. I
have rescued that pad, (hold onto your trousers) have sopped out
a lot of black ink, and now routineltly salvage ("recycle",
Clyde) with my black hypo from all the cells cast in the unit
bottom, ALL black and multi purple-black ink, adding a bit of
sopping water and a tad of Windex to get good yield. I re-insert
this recycled ink into the black cartridge. The felt pad there
so far is an excellent particle filter.

7- so far so good.

Angelo Campanella

 

[Ron Cohen]

Please note that you are describing a totally different type of cartridge
than the BCI-3 or BCI-6.