manually cleaning a printhead

  • Thread starter Thread starter snydley
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snydley

I have a Canon MP730 printer and it's started to print colored documents
really bad. I've done the cleaning, head alignment and nozzle check, with no
positive effects. The printer gets easy use, just occasional printing at
home.
I would like to remove the printhead, (I have it in my hand now), and
somehow manually clean it to see if that makes any difference, but I'm not
sure what kind of cleaner to use or what procedure.
I'm trying to determine if: A: the printhead is dirty and needs to be
cleaned, B: the printhead is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced, or C:
it's something other than a printhead problem. When I do a printhead
alignment setup it prints 11 columns of patterns and 5 of them are
completely blank, when it used to print all 11. The printing has been
deteriorating for a while, now it's really bad. Does anyone know how to do
this, or could maybe recommend a website on the Internet that might have
some info? I went to the Canon site, and that was no more help than what I
had in my manual.

Thanks,
Snyde
 
Are you now and have you always used Canon ink. If not you may have
ruined the printhead with generic ink. If you have always used Canon
ink that would be very unusual. The MP730 is fairly new and you should
not have any problems using it with Canon ink unless you let is sit for
months or have removed a cart for a long time and failed to put it back.
 
snydley said:
I have a Canon MP730 printer and it's started to print colored documents
really bad. I've done the cleaning, head alignment and nozzle check, with
no positive effects. The printer gets easy use, just occasional printing at
home.
I would like to remove the printhead, (I have it in my hand now), and
somehow manually clean it to see if that makes any difference, but I'm not
sure what kind of cleaner to use or what procedure.
I'm trying to determine if: A: the printhead is dirty and needs to be
cleaned, B: the printhead is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced, or
C: it's something other than a printhead problem. When I do a printhead
alignment setup it prints 11 columns of patterns and 5 of them are
completely blank, when it used to print all 11. The printing has been
deteriorating for a while, now it's really bad. Does anyone know how to do
this, or could maybe recommend a website on the Internet that might have
some info? I went to the Canon site, and that was no more help than what I
had in my manual.

Thanks,
Snyde
Click to expand...
Snyde - go onto the Nifty-stuff forum, sign in, click on FAQ's, and read the
first topic on what to do when your printer doesn't print properly. Lots of
info on cleaning canon printheads. I see two problems in your post. One is
occasional printing which permits ink to dry in the nozzles. The other is
continuing to print when some of the nozzles are possibly clogged. Canon
printers have heating elements in the nozzles that heat up the ink and
propel it out to accomplish the printing process. They rely on ink being
present to also act as a coolant. Lack of liquid ink in the nozzles can fry
them. Give cleaning a try before buying a new printhead. The best price
I've seen for factory-sealed new printheads is from
http://www.inkcessories.com/ . The link for nifty stuff forum is
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/
 
snydley said:
I have a Canon MP730 printer and it's started to print colored documents
really bad. I've done the cleaning, head alignment and nozzle check, with no
positive effects. The printer gets easy use, just occasional printing at
home.
I would like to remove the printhead, (I have it in my hand now), and
somehow manually clean it to see if that makes any difference, but I'm not
sure what kind of cleaner to use or what procedure.
I'm trying to determine if: A: the printhead is dirty and needs to be
cleaned, B: the printhead is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced, or C:
it's something other than a printhead problem. When I do a printhead
alignment setup it prints 11 columns of patterns and 5 of them are
completely blank, when it used to print all 11. The printing has been
deteriorating for a while, now it's really bad. Does anyone know how to do
this, or could maybe recommend a website on the Internet that might have
some info? I went to the Canon site, and that was no more help than what I
had in my manual.

Thanks,
Snyde
Click to expand...

Snyde
Ignore the other responder, his remarks are entirely wrong.
Firstly you can try cleaning the printhead using information from the Nifty
Stuff forum, google and you should find it.
Secondly, the symptoms you describe could be print head but also could be a
failed purge unit.
The cost of buying a printhead and then to find it is the purge unit would be
expensive. This is a case wher I believe you should go to a repair shop because
purge unit replacement is a long task (1 -1.5 hours) and the shop should have
the capability of telling whether it is the head or the purge unit. The sooner
the better in case it is the purge unit since the head will now be starrting to
dry up.
Tony
 
Tony said:
Snyde
Ignore the other responder, his remarks are entirely wrong.
Firstly you can try cleaning the printhead using information from the
Nifty
Stuff forum, google and you should find it.
Secondly, the symptoms you describe could be print head but also could be
a
failed purge unit.
The cost of buying a printhead and then to find it is the purge unit would
be
expensive. This is a case wher I believe you should go to a repair shop
because
purge unit replacement is a long task (1 -1.5 hours) and the shop should
have
the capability of telling whether it is the head or the purge unit. The
sooner
the better in case it is the purge unit since the head will now be
starrting to
dry up.
Tony
Click to expand...

Was there another responder between my post and Tony's? I did fail to
mention the purge unit as a possible problem, but both Tony and I suggested
trying to clean the printhead from info on the nifty-stuff forum. If the
purge unit is at fault the cleaning routines the printer does automatically
or in response to your running a cleaning cycle with the printer software
would be ineffective as the purge unit creates a vacuum to pull ink through
the printhead to disolve any dried ink that is in the nozzles. With minor
clogs this works well as designed. If the purge unit has failed the minor
clogs it tries to fix get worse with use of the printer. Tony is an
excellent source as he services and repairs printers.
 
Tony said:
Snyde
Ignore the other responder, his remarks are entirely wrong.
Firstly you can try cleaning the printhead using information from the
Nifty
Stuff forum, google and you should find it.
Secondly, the symptoms you describe could be print head but also could be
a
failed purge unit.
The cost of buying a printhead and then to find it is the purge unit would
be
expensive. This is a case wher I believe you should go to a repair shop
because
purge unit replacement is a long task (1 -1.5 hours) and the shop should
have
the capability of telling whether it is the head or the purge unit. The
sooner
the better in case it is the purge unit since the head will now be
starrting to
dry up.
Tony
Click to expand...

Hi,
Thanks for the help. The thing is, I don't want to take it to a repair
shop. This is the 2nd Canon multifunction printer that's gone bad on me and
I'm not buying any more. I'm gonna fix this myself or thow it out and buy an
Epson or some other brand. Besides, the closest shop is 1.5 hrs. from my
house.
I'm an electrical tech at Xerox. I help the test people troubleshoot and
repair the copiers on the assembly line. I tear the things apart all the
time, so I've got no problem with tearing this apart. The only thing is, is
that this inkjet is nothing like the dry ink toner printer/copiers I work on
and the parts and assemblys are nothing like I'm used to working on. It
would be nice to have a service manual to follow, but I think I can do it.
I did a search on the internet for purge unit, it came up with a
fixyourownprinter.com website and I search for purge unit there. It said to
turn the power on, open the top so the printhead will go to the center of
the track, then shut the power off. Look for a square sponge thing and clean
that. That's where I'm at now. If you can shed any more light on this I'd
appreciate any help you might have.

Snyde
 
snydley said:
Thanks for the help. The thing is, I don't want to take it to a repair
shop. This is the 2nd Canon multifunction printer that's gone bad on me
and I'm not buying any more. I'm gonna fix this myself or thow it out and
buy an Epson or some other brand. Besides, the closest shop is 1.5 hrs.
from my house.
I'm an electrical tech at Xerox. I help the test people troubleshoot and
repair the copiers on the assembly line. I tear the things apart all the
time, so I've got no problem with tearing this apart. The only thing is,
is that this inkjet is nothing like the dry ink toner printer/copiers I
work on and the parts and assemblys are nothing like I'm used to working
on. It would be nice to have a service manual to follow, but I think I can
do it.
I did a search on the internet for purge unit, it came up with a
fixyourownprinter.com website and I search for purge unit there. It said
to turn the power on, open the top so the printhead will go to the center
of the track, then shut the power off. Look for a square sponge thing and
clean that. That's where I'm at now. If you can shed any more light on
this I'd appreciate any help you might have.

Snyde
Click to expand...
I think what you have described is the pad where the printhead parks. The
purge unit is under the pad. It draws a vacuum that pulls ink through the
printhead and into the waste ink tank at the bottom of the printer.
Cleaning the pad doesn't fix the purge unit if that is the problem. FIRST -
do what Tony and I suggested - get the info from nifty-stuff and clean the
printhead. If it works ok and then goe bad again it may be the purge unit.
My guess is that you've used it so little that you've let ink dry in the
nozzles. Regardless of which inkjet you decide to buy next, you can't let
it sit idle. If you only need black print, buy a laser printer. If you
really want an inkjet printer but don't use it often you should consider one
of the HP printers that have the printheads integrated into the ink
cartridges. If you let the ink dry in one of these printers you just buy a
new ink cartridge and you get a new printhead with it.
 
Syndley,

You mentioned the missing patterns on the alignment sheet, but how does the
nozzle check appear? It does sound like the printhead is clogging from lack
of use and if this is the case it's very easy to clean. If the problem is
the result of dried ink, the printhead can easily be flushed out with hot
tap water. A few months ago I helped a friend with his iP4000 which was
clogged with OEM CANON INK (all caps for the benefit of Measekite, a.k.a the
Senator McCarthy wannabe). I took out the printhead and flushed it with hot
running water from the bathroom sink. Except for the external contacts, all
electrical components on the printhead are sealed and water will not harm
the printhead at all. Once the printer was up and running again, I showed
him how easy it was to refill the cartridges and it's worked perfectly since
then. Whatever you do, be sure to not touch the nozzles with anything other
than a soft lint free cloth or tissue - blot only, don't wipe.
 
tony da tiger is in da business

the relabelers generic ink forum

of course.

the best advice is to buy separates so if your printer goes out it can
be replaced (the entire unit) for around $80.00. You will not need
service leeches.
Hi,
Thanks for the help. The thing is, I don't want to take it to a repair
shop. This is the 2nd Canon multifunction printer that's gone bad on me and
I'm not buying any more. I'm gonna fix this myself or thow it out and buy an
Epson or some other brand. Besides, the closest shop is 1.5 hrs. from my
house.
Click to expand...

You are sort of making a mistake. Buy a Canon IP4200 or IP5200 (faster
on photos otherwise the same) and use Canon OEM ink. Then buy midpriced
Epson scanner (they do make a better scanner than Canon) for around
$150.00. If you need fax then get some fax software.
 
measekite said:
tony da tiger is in da business
Click to expand...

Which also means Tony is an expert and speaks with authority and
credibility.
the relabelers generic ink forum
Click to expand...

Where honest people are providing truthful and helpful advice.

of course.

the best advice is to buy separates so if your printer goes out it can be
replaced (the entire unit) for around $80.00.
Click to expand...

Which is about the same cost as a set of your beloved OEM ink tanks.

You will not need service leeches.


You are sort of making a mistake. Buy a Canon IP4200 or IP5200 (faster on
photos otherwise the same) and use Canon OEM ink. Then buy midpriced
Epson scanner (they do make a better scanner than Canon) for around
$150.00. If you need fax then get some fax software.
Click to expand...

I hate to admit it, but I actually agree with Measelkite about getting an
Epson scanner. I've owned a bunch of scanners and my Epson 1660 is clearly
superior to any of the other scanners I used to have. It's at least 5 years
old and it's still going strong.
 
snydley said:
Hi,
Thanks for the help. The thing is, I don't want to take it to a repair
shop. This is the 2nd Canon multifunction printer that's gone bad on me and
I'm not buying any more. I'm gonna fix this myself or thow it out and buy an
Epson or some other brand. Besides, the closest shop is 1.5 hrs. from my
house.
I'm an electrical tech at Xerox. I help the test people troubleshoot and
repair the copiers on the assembly line. I tear the things apart all the
time, so I've got no problem with tearing this apart. The only thing is, is
that this inkjet is nothing like the dry ink toner printer/copiers I work on
and the parts and assemblys are nothing like I'm used to working on. It
would be nice to have a service manual to follow, but I think I can do it.
I did a search on the internet for purge unit, it came up with a
fixyourownprinter.com website and I search for purge unit there. It said to
turn the power on, open the top so the printhead will go to the center of
the track, then shut the power off. Look for a square sponge thing and clean
that. That's where I'm at now. If you can shed any more light on this I'd
appreciate any help you might have.

Snyde
Click to expand...

As Burt has mentioned, the purge unit is under the sponge. It is a non trivial
task to remove it but the part itself is not expensive.
If cleaning the printhead does not fix the problem then you may wish to give
the repair a go.
Try www.manuals4you.com they may have the manual for sale and they are very
helpful.
Remember though that if the purge unit has failed the printhead may have dried
out to the point where it cannot be recovered.
So, firstly try recovering the printhead using techniques provided here and at
nifty stuff. Replacing the printhead at this time is risky, you don't need to
do that and find that the new printhead will not print at all (this will happen
of the purge unit has failed).
Tony
 
Tony said:
As Burt has mentioned, the purge unit is under the sponge. It is a non
trivial
task to remove it but the part itself is not expensive.
If cleaning the printhead does not fix the problem then you may wish to
give
the repair a go.
Try www.manuals4you.com they may have the manual for sale and they are
very
helpful.
Remember though that if the purge unit has failed the printhead may have
dried
out to the point where it cannot be recovered.
So, firstly try recovering the printhead using techniques provided here
and at
nifty stuff. Replacing the printhead at this time is risky, you don't need
to
do that and find that the new printhead will not print at all (this will
happen
of the purge unit has failed).
Tony
Click to expand...
I have to figure out to get to the purge unit, (from the top, or bottom).
I've taken all of this info. down here, and the websites. Right now I work
on it a little at a time when I get home from work, so it'll probably be
awhile before it's fixed. When I said I use it for occasional printing, I
meant it never do a lot of printing on it, but I probably use it everyday,
or every other day.
When printing a nozzle check pattern or an align heads pattern, I have
nothing in columns, B,D,G,I, and J, they are blank. I have no Cyan color on
any of the test patterns either, even though I've changed a 3/4 full Cyan
tank with a new one to eliminate that
I have another printer connected to this computer too, an Epson Stylus
Photo R340, so right now I'm using that to print anything in color, and the
Canon for B/W and scanning/faxing. But I would like to get the Canon going
100%. I bought the Epson just to print photos and print on CD's when the
Canon started acting up. My intent was to use the Canon for everyday
printing and the Epson only for photos and CDs.
Thanks for your help,
Snyde
 
Tony said:
As Burt has mentioned, the purge unit is under the sponge. It is a non
trivial
task to remove it but the part itself is not expensive.
If cleaning the printhead does not fix the problem then you may wish to
give
the repair a go.
Try www.manuals4you.com they may have the manual for sale and they are
very
helpful.
Remember though that if the purge unit has failed the printhead may have
dried
out to the point where it cannot be recovered.
So, firstly try recovering the printhead using techniques provided here
and at
nifty stuff. Replacing the printhead at this time is risky, you don't need
to
do that and find that the new printhead will not print at all (this will
happen
of the purge unit has failed).
Tony
Click to expand...
Hi Tony,
I got the thing apart, it quite a bit easier than I thought, (famous last
words). :-) You don't know the address of Canon's tech website do you?
Someone meantioned it somewhere in the last couple of days, but I didn't
right it down and I can't find it.
It turns out the purge unit, the wiper blades and sponges?, and the felt
type pads that run the whole length under the printhead path were absolutely
saturated with ink!! I couldn't believe how much was there! I rinsed and
rinsed those pads for about 10min. then decided as long as I had it torn
down this far I should put new pads in it.I took the sponges? out of it and
took them to the sink and rinsed them under lukewarm water. I pulled the
vacuum hoses off and blew through them, actually through the 2 hoses that
drop the ink from the purge unit onto those pads, back though the purge unit
and out the other end that sits under those little sponges that contact the
printhead. Essentially blowing back through the opposite way the ink
normally travels. There was very little ink, if any in the purge unit
itself. Now I need to find Canons tech website so I can order the new parts.
Hope you can help.
Thanks,
Snyde
 
snydley said:
Hi Tony,
I got the thing apart, it quite a bit easier than I thought, (famous last
words). :-) You don't know the address of Canon's tech website do you?
Someone meantioned it somewhere in the last couple of days, but I didn't
right it down and I can't find it.
It turns out the purge unit, the wiper blades and sponges?, and the felt
type pads that run the whole length under the printhead path were absolutely
saturated with ink!! I couldn't believe how much was there! I rinsed and
rinsed those pads for about 10min. then decided as long as I had it torn
down this far I should put new pads in it.I took the sponges? out of it and
took them to the sink and rinsed them under lukewarm water. I pulled the
vacuum hoses off and blew through them, actually through the 2 hoses that
drop the ink from the purge unit onto those pads, back though the purge unit
and out the other end that sits under those little sponges that contact the
printhead. Essentially blowing back through the opposite way the ink
normally travels. There was very little ink, if any in the purge unit
itself. Now I need to find Canons tech website so I can order the new parts.
Hope you can help.
Thanks,
Snyde
Click to expand...

Try http://www.thesuppliesshop.com/catasp/plist.asp?fldPrinterID=4159 part
number QG4-0279.
Good luck
Tony
 
snydley said:
Hi Tony,
You don't know of a place in America do you? Trying to save on shipping.
Thanks,
Snyde
Click to expand...

All I did was google "mp730 purge unit" and it threw up the URL.
You could also try googling for the part number.
Good luck
Tony
 
Tony said:
All I did was google "mp730 purge unit" and it threw up the URL.
You could also try googling for the part number.
Good luck
Tony
Click to expand...

Thanks Tony,
I thought with your expertise at this you might have access to different
parts suppliers. I'll try Google. Iemailed Canon and they gave me a phone
number for parts, I'll try that too.
Thanks for all of your help
Snyde
 
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