Just cleaned my Epson 740 Printer Head, now have some weird results- HELP!!

[Dee]

Basically had my Epson 740 for a number of years and used it on a
regular basis to keep the head as clogg free as possible.

But after many years of good service I could see it needed a clean as
ink wasn't always quite hitting the mark and text not as sharp as when
it was new.

Anyway I found some photos and insructions on the web that show you how
to remove the head and clean it and followed them, however I now have a
problem with only the black ink which I didn't have before.

Colours print fine but every new day I want to use the printer I need to
do a cleaning cycle to get the black to print. If I turn on the printer
and print something the black is very faint.

See Link (BTW text from other side after cleaning is shining through on
this pic .. sorry)

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

However if I do a single cleaning cycle it seem to improve things but
the first inch or so on the left appears fainter then the rest of the line.

So I'm not sure what is causing that?

See Link (BTW Red line is much sharper then it looks because I printed
on both sides of the paper so some of it has shon through the paper)

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

Any ideas what is causing the problems with the black ink?

And anyway to do a cleaning cycle on a 740 that only cleans black and
not wastes the colours? I've put in brnad new cartridges for both BTW -
OEM though.

 

[Dee]

Basically had my Epson 740 for a number of years and used it on a
regular basis to keep the head as clogg free as possible.

But after many years of good service I could see it needed a clean as
ink wasn't always quite hitting the mark and text not as sharp as when
it was new.

Anyway I found some photos and insructions on the web that show you how
to remove the head and clean it and followed them, however I now have a
problem with only the black ink which I didn't have before.

Colours print fine but every new day I want to use the printer I need to
do a cleaning cycle to get the black to print. If I turn on the printer
and print something the black is very faint.

See Link (BTW text from other side after cleaning is shining through on
this pic .. sorry)

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

However if I do a single cleaning cycle it seem to improve things but
the first inch or so on the left appears fainter then the rest of the line.

So I'm not sure what is causing that?

See Link (BTW Red line is much sharper then it looks because I printed
on both sides of the paper so some of it has shon through the paper)

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

Any ideas what is causing the problems with the black ink?

And anyway to do a cleaning cycle on a 740 that only cleans black and
not wastes the colours? I've put in brnad new cartridges for both BTW -
OEM though.

BTW I left my printer on for about an hour after the last print... went
to print out my email again on a fresh paper and the black is faint
again, as per the first picture on the URL I supplied

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

 

[Harvey]

Basically had my Epson 740 for a number of years and used it on a regular
basis to keep the head as clogg free as possible.

But after many years of good service I could see it needed a clean as ink
wasn't always quite hitting the mark and text not as sharp as when it was
new.

Anyway I found some photos and insructions on the web that show you how to
remove the head and clean it and followed them, however I now have a
problem with only the black ink which I didn't have before.

Colours print fine but every new day I want to use the printer I need to
do a cleaning cycle to get the black to print. If I turn on the printer
and print something the black is very faint.

See Link (BTW text from other side after cleaning is shining through on
this pic .. sorry)

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

However if I do a single cleaning cycle it seem to improve things but the
first inch or so on the left appears fainter then the rest of the line.

So I'm not sure what is causing that?

See Link (BTW Red line is much sharper then it looks because I printed on
both sides of the paper so some of it has shon through the paper)

http://s119134524.onlinehome.us/Epson740/epson740.html

Any ideas what is causing the problems with the black ink?

Try some different ink - probably a genuine Epson. I've seen similar results
magically correct themselves just by changing the ink used.

And anyway to do a cleaning cycle on a 740 that only cleans black and not
wastes the colours? I've put in brnad new cartridges for both BTW - OEM
though.

Try the Epson SSC - http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml. That can do cleaning
cycles on just the black (or just the colour). It says is supports the 740,
but you'll have to try it to see if that particular feature works with your
printer.

 

[Dee]

Try the Epson SSC - http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml. That can do cleaning
cycles on just the black (or just the colour). It says is supports the 740,
but you'll have to try it to see if that particular feature works with your
printer.

Great link Harvery, the black only cleanign doesn't seem to work for me
but the normal cleaning does and the print check pattern is better then
the epson one as it doesn't eject the paper after.

just anormal clean seems to have helped a bit will let it settle and try
again tomorrow to see, BTW I hope my pics are helpful to people!

 

[Arthur Entlich]

In general, I suggest against removal of the heads for cleaning. Most
everything that can be done via removal can be done with the head
installed, and with much less risk of damaging the head or electronics.

I know of many people who have shorted or otherwise permanently
destroyed their Epson heads while removed.

Usually what you are indicating is a problem with head capping, or the
air valve in the cleaning station staying open and drying out the head.

I would try to put some ammoniated window cleaner into the cleaning
station and then allow the head to park there and allow it to sit for a
few hours. This will both help to clean up any residual ink in the
cleaning station or the rubber seal, and may even help to clear the air
valve so it works better. Also, if there is still any residue in the
black head it may help to dissolve it. It is also possible the black
ink is not quite dilute enough. If it is n old cartridge, refill, or
3rd party, it may need a touch of the same ammoniated window cleaner
added to the ink in the cartridges, alike one of two eyedroppers full,
added from the bottom ink outlet. It is also possible one of the ink
filters in the head assembly is somewhat clogged. Give the tip (the ink
nipple, the part that punctures the cartridge) a good cleaning with
ammoniated window cleaner as well.

Unless the printer has two or more separate cleaning stations, each time
you do a nozzle cleaning all cartridges are equally purged.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

There is really no way a printer that physically has only one purge pump
and cleaning station can do separate cleaning of certain heads. The
heads are ganged together, and whatever receives the vacuum, expresses ink.

The only thing the SSC utility could do is to literally activate the
piezo actuators for one head or anything, but, as anyone knows who has
had an ink clog, printing with ink rarely helps to unclog an already
clogged head.

Art

 

[Dee]

In general, I suggest against removal of the heads for cleaning. Most
everything that can be done via removal can be done with the head
installed, and with much less risk of damaging the head or electronics.

I know of many people who have shorted or otherwise permanently
destroyed their Epson heads while removed.

Usually what you are indicating is a problem with head capping, or the
air valve in the cleaning station staying open and drying out the head.

I would try to put some ammoniated window cleaner into the cleaning
station and then allow the head to park there and allow it to sit for a
few hours. This will both help to clean up any residual ink in the
cleaning station or the rubber seal, and may even help to clear the air
valve so it works better. Also, if there is still any residue in the
black head it may help to dissolve it. It is also possible the black
ink is not quite dilute enough. If it is n old cartridge, refill, or
3rd party, it may need a touch of the same ammoniated window cleaner
added to the ink in the cartridges, alike one of two eyedroppers full,
added from the bottom ink outlet. It is also possible one of the ink
filters in the head assembly is somewhat clogged. Give the tip (the ink
nipple, the part that punctures the cartridge) a good cleaning with
ammoniated window cleaner as well.

Unless the printer has two or more separate cleaning stations, each time
you do a nozzle cleaning all cartridges are equally purged.

Art

Do you have apic of what part is the cleaning station, just I can be can
sure? or maybe it's in one of the pics I took on my website?

Do you mean that white pad that soaks the ink on the right? or little
black thing that looks like a suction cup?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

The cleaning station is the area to the right where the heads rest when
the printer is turned off. It has a pad on it, which is usually stained
the ink colors.

If you send me the url for your website I can look at the pictures and
see if you show the area I'm speaking of, or if you email me with a
working email address, I can send you a pic of one.

Art