Posted by Bill Vermillion on 01/12/01 11:39

In article <Xns9764E83DBCB7vtqj3@216.196.109.145>,
if <nono@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>Roy L. Fuchs <roylfuchs@urfargingicehole.org> wrote in
>news:85bku1h4echmv2ubqgml6u5gf7kfljladc@4ax.com:

>> Are cannon's heads part of the printer or cartridge?

>On the Pixma, neither - the print head is a separate item that
>you install before adding the ink tanks. I don't know how much a
>replacement one costs but I hear they're fairly reasonable, and
>it follows from the above that you can fit it yourself rather
>than having to send it back for servicing as is the case with
>Epsons.

I had one color - cyan - that just didn't want to print.

I called tech support and we went through cleaning several times -
cleaning without printing a check then the check print.

After it would only print a few streaks after all of this the tech
said I could take it to a shop - as it was under warranty - or he
could send the print head - which appeared to be the problem.

It's identical to the head that ships in the box when you install
the printer. It's as easy to install as the ink cartridges.

I mentioned earlier the cyan ink problem I had and the place I got
the ink from replaced a cart and a bottle of ink.

He also told me that Canon has the weakest pumping action ol the
other popular printers and can clog easily.

I had brought the clogged head along to show him.

Most of the times the head does not fail it just clogs up according
to him. Just soak it in warm water, then use a can om compressed
air to blow and clogs out.

To tell if things are working properly moisten a folded paper towel
and press it againt the print head, and while watching the little
pads on the inside press upwards. That will force the water
from the paper upwards, and you should see liquid on each of the
pads. If no liquid comes up that head is still plugged.

So set it in warm water for at least 20 minutes and try again.

I now have a spare print head after cleaning the one that the Canon
tech said was bad - and technically it was bad.

So unless you ran the ink out and kept on printing the heads will
rarely fail.

Bill

--
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com

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