HP Deskjet 6980 Cartridge Question

[Dave C.]

I have an HP 6980 that uses cartridges 96, black, and 97, tri-color.
In the past I have successfully refilled these quit a few times. Some
weeks ago I bought a new 96 and 97 from a local store and have been
using them with no problems.

Yesterday, the tri-color one (97) was 90 percent empty so I topped it
off with the same inks I have used frequently in the past. From past
experience, I have handled the cartridge very carefully during
refilling.

Now the printer does not accept the color cartridge. I have done a
printer cold boot (removing power for 30 minutes), rebooted the PC,
rinsed the cartridge under very warm water, cleaned the contacts of
the print head and the contacts in the printer carefully with a little
alcohol to no avail.

For some reason that I can't figure, the printer does not like the
color cartridge after this first refill. I must have done something
to the cartridge and cant't figure it out.

Any ideas would be appreciated before I purchase an new #97.

Regards,

Dave C.

 

[Al]

I have an HP 6980 that uses cartridges 96, black, and 97, tri-color.
In the past I have successfully refilled these quit a few times. Some
weeks ago I bought a new 96 and 97 from a local store and have been
using them with no problems.

Yesterday, the tri-color one (97) was 90 percent empty so I topped it
off with the same inks I have used frequently in the past. From past
experience, I have handled the cartridge very carefully during
refilling.

Now the printer does not accept the color cartridge. I have done a
printer cold boot (removing power for 30 minutes), rebooted the PC,
rinsed the cartridge under very warm water, cleaned the contacts of
the print head and the contacts in the printer carefully with a little
alcohol to no avail.

For some reason that I can't figure, the printer does not like the
color cartridge after this first refill. I must have done something
to the cartridge and cant't figure it out.

Any ideas would be appreciated before I purchase an new #97.

Regards,

Dave C.

I'm not a 97 filler myself. Others will provide specific info on that.
I know we talk all the time about getting the air out of the cart when
filling. Some people use equipment that fills from below. That avoids
the air problem. If you fill from the top, air is likely stuck near
the head. The cart has to be "burped" to remove the air. Don't throw
anything out until you have tried everything. With many HP carts there
is a way to tape contacts on the back, cycle the cart in and out, and
reset the system to recognize it. That works for the 56,57,45, and78
from personal knowledge. There's nothing wrong with having an extra
cart around to work with. I'd never buy a new cart though when
remanufactured ones are so cheap.

 

[Dave C.]

I'm not a 97 filler myself. Others will provide specific info on that.
I know we talk all the time about getting the air out of the cart when
filling. Some people use equipment that fills from below. That avoids
the air problem. If you fill from the top, air is likely stuck near
the head. The cart has to be  "burped" to remove the air. Don't throw
anything out until you have tried everything. With many HP carts there
is a way to tape contacts on the back, cycle the cart in and out, and
reset the system to recognize it. That works for the 56,57,45, and78
from personal knowledge. There's nothing wrong with having an extra
cart around to work with. I'd never buy a new cart though when
remanufactured ones are so cheap.

Somehow I must have mishandled the cartridge while filling. From
previous posts, the cartridge has to pass some electronic tests and
for some reason this one now does not.

Would appreciate any info that would explain how this happens so as
not to cause it to happen in the future.

Thanks

Dave C.

 

[Al]

Somehow I must have mishandled the cartridge while filling. From
previous posts, the cartridge has to pass some electronic tests and
for some reason this one now does not.

Would appreciate any info that would explain how this happens so as
not to cause it to happen in the future.

Thanks

Dave C.

Just search this group and Google too. HP carts are so common that
advice abounds.
There are tools that fill from the bottom. That eliminates trapped
air, if that is your problem.
I don't have that tool so I turn the cart upside down and push air
into the chamber at the very top (not deep) using a plunger sealed at
the entry point. That causes air to pop out the nozzles. You can see
the air bubbling out and then solid ink starts. Then you know the air
is out of that color chamber. To perform this task my way it takes a
way of sealing at the top and a way of keeping the other colors from
running out the top on to your hands or the floor. I use screws tapped
into the entry points of colors not being filled while I work and then
I remove them to vent the color after all the filling is done.
I have seen posts where fillers gravity feed these carts by using a
syringe that goes deep to the bottom. They leave the plunger off the
syringe and allow ink in the funnel part of the syringe to work its
way to the bottom by gravity over say half an hour or so. That did not
work for me and I like instant satisfaction.

 

[Dave C.]

Just search this group and Google too. HP carts are so common that
advice abounds.
There are tools that fill from the bottom. That eliminates trapped
air, if that is your problem.
I don't have that tool so I turn the cart upside down and push air
into the chamber at the very top (not deep) using a plunger sealed at
the entry point. That causes air to pop out the nozzles. You can see
the air bubbling out and then solid ink starts. Then you know the air
is out of that color chamber. To perform this task my way it takes a
way of sealing at the top and a way of keeping the other colors from
running out the top on to your hands or the floor. I use screws tapped
into the entry points of colors not being filled while I work and then
I remove them to vent the color after all the filling is done.
I have seen posts where fillers gravity feed these carts by using a
syringe that goes deep to the bottom. They leave the plunger off the
syringe and allow ink in the funnel part of the syringe to work its
way to the bottom by gravity over say half an hour or so. That did not
work for me and I like instant satisfaction.

Thanks for getting back to me on this. I seem to believe that the
three inks are present at the nozzles as when I blot it on a damp
paper towel, I get all there cyan, yellow and magenta showing easily.

The problem is when I put the cartridge in the printer and close the
printer cover, I immediately get an error blinking light and the
printer will not print or function in any way. This indicates that
the cartridge did not pass some initial test. Then I can take the
color cartridge out and the printer will print fine with only the
black cartridge (as the printer is designed to do).

Since the color cartridge worked before I topped it off (for the first
time), I somehow mishandled it or something that rendered the
cartridge unusable. I also simmered a quarter inch of water in a sauce
pan for 15 minutes which I heard can be tried on a troublesome
cartridge to no avail.

I am trying to figure what I did wrong that rendered the cartridge not
to work. I have filled previous color and black cartridges for this
printer (these and other types where the heads are in the cartridges,
not the printer) many dozen of times these past few years
successfully. I have always had a great record until now.

I guess I am about to go and buy a replacement one. I usually buy new
expecting the refills to be more reliable.

Cheers,

Dave C.

 

[Al]

Thanks for getting back to me on this. I seem to believe that the
three inks are present at the nozzles as when I blot it on a damp
paper towel, I get all there cyan, yellow and magenta showing easily.

The problem is when I put the cartridge in the printer and close the
printer cover, I immediately get an error blinking light and the
printer will not print or function in any way. This indicates that
the cartridge did not pass some initial test. Then I can take the
color cartridge out and the printer will print fine with only the
black cartridge (as the printer is designed to do).

Since the color cartridge worked before I topped it off (for the first
time), I somehow mishandled it or something that rendered the
cartridge unusable. I also simmered a quarter inch of water in a sauce
pan for 15 minutes which I heard can be tried on a troublesome
cartridge to no avail.

I am trying to figure what I did wrong that rendered the cartridge not
to work. I have filled previous color and black cartridges for this
printer (these and other types where the heads are in the cartridges,
not the printer) many dozen of times these past few years
successfully. I have always had a great record until now.

I guess I am about to go and buy a replacement one. I usually buy new
expecting the refills to be more reliable.

Cheers,

Dave C.

Sounds like you are doing a good job of refilling. How many times had
that cart been refilled? They can go bad at any time. Whenever the
cart is removed from the printer, it goes through some tests when
reinstalled. Yours did not pass. It could be that the resistors for
one of the colors got burned because of low ink.

 

[Dave C.]

Sounds like you are doing a good job of refilling. How many times had
that cart been refilled? They can go bad at any time. Whenever the
cart is removed from the printer, it goes through some tests when
reinstalled. Yours did not pass. It could be that the resistors for
one of the colors got burned because of low ink.

That certainly could be, Al. This was a new one and the first time I
filled it. I thought I did the refill before it ran out but I can't
be sure. The previous color cartridge was filled many times, maybe 6
to 10 times successfully as well as the black one.

About a month ago, I bought both a color and black one new because it
was time. I certainly have no complaints as these cartridges and
printer do a fine job for what I need.

Your explanation seems to fit the issue. Shortly I will be on my way
to get another new one.

Cheers,

Dave C.