Hi Grant,
The problem you are experiencing with your Epson r230 printer is very
common and correctable. The cause is what I refer to as "deflected
nozzles". Basically, what happens is the nozzle opening gets partially
clogged, and depending upon what area of the nozzle is clogged
determines which direction the ink goes. It is very much like when you
take a garden hose with water flowing and place your thumb over one part
of it, diverting the water path on an angle.
The fix is both cheap and relatively easy, especially with the inks used
in the r230, which are dye colorant without any waterproof resins.
I have a manual which explains the full procedure and how to use common
household cleaning agents to clean the underside of the head, which
usually resolves this. You can also soak the underside of the head in
the cleaning station with the cleaning solution formula discussed in the
manual, which is even easier and often enough to resolve the issue.
Occasionally, you may need to make up cleaning cartridges
and run the fluid through the head, but that is only if the other two
solutions do not work. None of these procedures require you to
dismantle the printer or heads, so please do not do that, nor use any
pressure with fluids or air to the heads as this can lead to head
delamination which Jan mentioned, and that is a permanent damage.
For the full manual and all the suggestions in detail, please just email
me and mention the printer model and the problem again (I answer quite a
few requests a day, and that will remind me).
There is no charge for this service, and I have nothing to sell or spam
you with. If you have any doubt, Google my name and you'll see these
manual have been request thousands of time a year.
So, to get to me directly, just email me at:
e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org
(at) = @
(dot) - .
Arthur Entlich
If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:
http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/