Print cartridge changed - printing no longer prints

[Guest]

Canon S300 ... recently changed the black cartridge with a printer compatible
cartridge and now black does not print. Tried a 2nd new cartridge (no
change). Checked if the printer cartridge has a seal over the ink outlet (did
not, ink was easily absorbed into the corner of a tissue). Tried the printer
head cleaning operation (3x) from the XP printer properties/maintance window
(no change). Tried "deep cleaning" operation (no change). Suggestions? Do
printers need other cleaning that I am not aware of?

Note - color cartridge changed at the same time. Colour printing is working.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

No but the print head may have failed.

You did remove the little tear off strip at the top of the cartridge didn't
you?

 

[Guest]

It was a plastic cover (not an actual tear off tape) ... so yes. That's why
proved to myself that the ink was "accessable" to the device that housed the
cartridge. Print heads are replacable, I presume?

 

[Chuck]

Print heads are replaceable, but the cost may be more than a replacement
printer.
In the past, I've occasionally had a problem similar to yours. In the first
case, the black head or drivers for a Canon BJ620 quit. In the second, an
air bubble formed in an S600 head.

It is usually possible to degunk the head nozzles, using a wet paper towel,
and a rubber ear/nose bulb to help pull any clogged ink from the nozzles.
You can also use such a bulb to force ink or a cleaning solution into the
head.

The ink tank feeds into a small screened hole in the head. The hole has a
plastic ring and usually a foam seal. The screen can become clogged with
dried ink or other crud.

As to what cleaning solution to use-- clean distilled water is the safest. I
have used this as well as "golden grain". Others report success with such
things as Windex and water with a small amount of detergent.

 

[Randy]

Some third party inks are not very good quality. I have had some that just
would not work. Some other third party brands work just fine. When my Epson
860 was clogged with bad ink Failed on first attempt to print. I bought a
cleaner kit that basically replaces the ink with a solvent which unclogs the
inkjets in the print head. Then you throw away or return the defective
cartridges and either try another off brand, or by the recommended cartridge
for your printer.