Dirty Printhead

[doanster]

Does anyone know how to physically clean a printer printhead?
The yellow ink is streaking for some reason.
All the ink tanks are full and I have tried the usual cleaning cycles through printer maintenance settings. I also tried cleaning with isopropyl alcohol (99% v/v) with no luck.

I have a Canon Multipass MP700 printer with the individual ink tanks and removeable head, if that info helps.

Thanks!

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, I never had to clean a head, but have done a lot of re-inking. Sounds like you should take the head out and set it in a small container with about 1/8 to 1/4" of solvent and leave it overnight. Solvent comes with re-inking kits. A good solvent is 90% rubbing alcohol. Some states you have to get it from the Phamacist. 70% will work but takes longer. Hope this helps, Jim

EDIT: I should have mentioned that Rubbing Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol are one and the same. Jim

 

[stlcardinals]

As a printer repair tech, I have always used isopropyl alcohol to clean printheads. I have not worked on any Canons but it works like a charm with HP deskjets.

 

[argoldst]

I had to "buy" new hp printhead cause mine were clogged. They wanted $150 for em so I basically figured I would try to clean them myself (and if that failed, buy a new printer).

I read this online and tried it and it actually worked.

Soak your printheads in windex for about 5 hours (overnight if they are really bad). Then let them sit in paper towels to dry off. When they are done, your printer will print like new.

It worked for me but I do it at your own risk.

Good luck.

 

[cobo]

When alcohol doesn't work I soak the print head of cartidges in full strength ammonia, then use my Sonicare toothbrush dipped in ammonia on them.

 

[redhatlinux]

Different inks are soluable in different substances. I believe that HP has a new ink that allows for the entire print to be emmersed in water without problems. A severe clog is hard to remove. You need to prevent them in the future by running the cleaning cycles very frequently.

 

[mOeeOm]

Originally posted by: stlcardinals
As a printer repair tech, I have always used isopropyl alcohol to clean printheads. I have not worked on any Canons but it works like a charm with HP deskjets.

My printer stopped printing colour completely, even though its full of colour ink....is it because the head is clogged? if so, how do I do your method? leave it in alcohol or rub alcohol on it?

 

[impemonk]

hmmm... when I had that problem with my printer I just went to printer preferences and did all the utilities in that menu. But I am guessing you did that already? But anyways, just for future reference try using the utilities in your printer's menu.

 

[DARQ MX]

Using rubbing achocol is alway good but some percolators will never be cleaned out all of the way because they are too small.

 

[doanster]

Yeah I was out of town for 4 months and when I came back it became clogged... I only soaked the head for about an hour which I realize now is not enough.

Thanks for help guys!

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: stlcardinals
As a printer repair tech, I have always used isopropyl alcohol to clean printheads. I have not worked on any Canons but it works like a charm with HP deskjets.

That's strange. HP Deskjets do not have printhead assemblies - they are built in to the ink cartridge. Every new cartridge gives you a new printhead.

Canon heads cost about $120 to $150, and arew supposed to be cleaned periodically. Jim Phelps's suggestion is good. The head assembly should be removed and soaked. Been there - done that.

 

[stlcardinals]

Originally posted by: corkyg

That's strange. HP Deskjets do not have printhead assemblies - they are built in to the ink cartridge. Every new cartridge gives you a new printhead.

Exactly. Sometimes people will let their printers set for so long that the ink will clog up on those cartridges and won't print even though they are full. All you need to do is put isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel and wipe the bottom of the cartridge until you get good ink flow.