DeskJet 500: Gummed Up. Comments?

  • Thread starter Thread starter clintonG
  • Start date Start date
C

clintonG

My old workhorse is on her death bed and she's all gummed causing
the same type of 'white streaks' through printed text as a Canon printer
which resolves this issue with a quick replacement of the print head.

Does anybody have any comments regarding suggested repair?
Where to obtain parts if I need a print head replacement? The HP
website sucks in this regard and I couldn't find any information in this
regard.


--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET (e-mail address removed)
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/
 
clintonG said:
My old workhorse is on her death bed and she's all gummed causing
the same type of 'white streaks' through printed text as a Canon printer
which resolves this issue with a quick replacement of the print head.

Does anybody have any comments regarding suggested repair?
Where to obtain parts if I need a print head replacement? The HP
website sucks in this regard and I couldn't find any information in this
regard.
Click to expand...

I thought the HP 500 has printheads in the ink cartridges?

If so, simply buy a new cartridge. Of perhaps the contacts are dirty, in
which case a gentle wiping with a damp cloth should fix it up.
 
There are electronics in the inkwell assembly but the main electronics
appear to be in the cage the inkwell assembly plugs into. There is a
flat ribbon cable connected to that cage.

I've had to clean out the gunk that accumulates once before. The bottom
of the inkwell gums up which causes the 'white streaks' and there's
only so much I can clean from the surface areas inside the cage.

Its the cage 'print head' I may need to replace and talking to an
experienced tech at an authorized repair center would really help
except I haven't been able to find any repair centers listed anywhere.
 
clintonG said:
My old workhorse is on her death bed and she's all gummed causing
the same type of 'white streaks' through printed text as a Canon printer
which resolves this issue with a quick replacement of the print head.

Does anybody have any comments regarding suggested repair?
Where to obtain parts if I need a print head replacement? The HP
website sucks in this regard and I couldn't find any information in this
regard.
Click to expand...


Nah ... impossible.
they're un_killable, unlike the post 98 'units' .

Sounds like the tank embedded nozzles dried up ...
the tank carries the nozzles ...

'Mite' clean up with a =gentle= roll of a Q-tip soaked w/ water & deterg
....

=nozzles= ...
=Dont= scrub .... use lite, =gentle= "roll" of the Q_tip ...
maybe soak the bottom_mounted 'head' section in deterg solution ...
re_roll ...

I remove my tank/ctg when not in use ... trying to go/get paperless ...
re_store the ctg in shipping container & seal the box to avoid dry_out.

Also ...
view the nozzle cleaning tank area ... esp the 'head' cleaning "brush"
....
clean it up with a Q-tip too

Use a dry paper towel to lightly clean the contacts on the tank after
....
and the contacts in the ctg holder too ...
dont use a dry ppr towel on the head nozzles ... just the signal
contacts .

BTW ... use steam iron water(distled) for the head 'clean' ...
or Brita filtered water ...
many water supplies use a soluable resin in the water water supply .

Have you applied the =freebie= 'fix' for the 'DJ' ink drain tank,
the drain tank fixxed & mounted in/to the prntr body ???
"Fix" may no longer be available ...

Both my '500', and orig $600(ouch) DJ, work well ...

I'd opine a Canon 9xx/9xxx is my next choice.

Ed.
 
My old workhorse is on her death bed and she's all gummed causing
the same type of 'white streaks' through printed text as a Canon printer
which resolves this issue with a quick replacement of the print head.

Does anybody have any comments regarding suggested repair?
Where to obtain parts if I need a print head replacement? The HP
website sucks in this regard and I couldn't find any information in this
regard.
Click to expand...

I had one of those a while back. Worked well until the roller gave out
and jammed with paper. Wasn't worth fixing.

But - I would suggest you try new cartridges and a couple of cleaning
cycles if you want to keep the printer. it may or may not work but the
cartridges have new heads so...

Personally - look at how much the price of two new HP cartridges are -
then look at the price on an HP 5150 printer. Then decide if it's
worth it. I know what I'd do ...
 
The DJ 500 cartridge [HP51626A] is a complete print head, electronics and
everything. I've had good luck with the remanufactured ones that go for
less than $20.
 
I've never heard of any 'DJ' ink drain tank fix. What's up with that?

I've never attempted to keep the print head in a humid state which
I have been discussing with a friend who keeps his print head in
the refridgerator. I think I need to do something like this as the
printer is in the basement where my 'office' is and I have to keep
a small heater on most of the time to keep from freezing my @ss off.
Making a small humidor will be easy enough to try out for awhile.

Thanks for the comments.

<%= Clinton Gallagher
 
Do you have a merchant site referral where you purchased? I haven't
considered a remanufactured cartridge.
 
clintonG said:
My old workhorse is on her death bed and she's all gummed causing
the same type of 'white streaks' through printed text as a Canon printer
which resolves this issue with a quick replacement of the print head.
Click to expand...
I still have a 500 running in a office where I only print 5 pages a week.
Paid $500 new. At one point I sold it for $200, and 5 or so years later the
new owner gave it back, after upgrading. It seems slow by today's
standards. I refilled it with Script ink (Schaeffer is going out of
business soon. BIC, the current owner, is closing that division.) and
instructions from "The Deskjet Survival Kit" (shareware). Then I discovered
a re-ink supplier (Grove) and used their ink for years. After reading these
posts, I do recall installing some upgrade early on from HP. They didn't
notify the owners, but somehow I found out. On more than one occasion I've
cleaned out the gunk that accumulates inside the printer, and cleaned off
the rubber wheels that pick up the paper. They get slick and shine -- a
little steel wool and rubbing alcohol did the trick.

I now prefer the 700 series HP printers -- much faster, easy to refill (MIS
ink; no affiliation. MIS sells a clip for bottom filling. It's a snap.
BTW, they sell a clip for bottom refilling of the 500 series as well. )They
seem pretty durable as well. Still require cleaning out of the gunk on
occasion. The excess ink inside the printer gets as thick as grease. The
700 series HP printers should be widely available at yard sales and flea
markets.

If you don't print in color, consider a new $100 laser printer. Much
faster, much cheaper per page cost, less trouble.

If you really love your 500, and discover it's toast, email me. I think I
might have an extra one in storage that I'd consider parting with.

Regards,
Larry
 
clintonG said:
I've never heard of any 'DJ' ink drain tank fix. What's up with that?
Click to expand...


May of `95 ...

HP pt# : 02276-60106
name : deprime kit
date : 03-02-95

Manual, + three(3) replacement parts , and a disassembly 'tool' for
the ctg holder

from the HP Service Ctr in Corvalis OR
1-916-785-1200 in `95 ...
- freebie 'kit' + shipping .
( Good_Ole 'HP' of old )

Gotta guess no longer avail.

Qed
 
Back
Top