Epson 900N-forcing cartridge change

[ME]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

A friend gave me this printer--they had it just sitting around. The
black cart prints fine, but the color doesn't. My guess is that it is
probably dried out. Did multiple nozzle checks/cleanings, no joy.
Can't get it to move carts to "change" position. According to the info
on the cover, a light will flash when the cart needs to be changed, but
there is no light flashing. So, I guess the printer doesn't think it
needs changing.

So, how does one force the printer to allow a cart change?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

I'm not sure if the 900 uses the exact same buttons, but on the 850,
with the printer already on, press both the black and color cleaning
buttons at the same time for a few seconds. This should place the black
ink cartridge in the replacement area. If it does so, then press on the
color cleaning button until the carriage moves further over for the
color cartridge.

Keep the old cartridge. You may need it if the head is clogged, to make
a cleaning cartridge.

If you need further information on cleaning the heads, email me and
request my Epson Cleaning Manual.

No fee,

Art

me@privacy.net wrote:

> A friend gave me this printer--they had it just sitting around. The
> black cart prints fine, but the color doesn't. My guess is that it is
> probably dried out. Did multiple nozzle checks/cleanings, no joy.
> Can't get it to move carts to "change" position. According to the info
> on the cover, a light will flash when the cart needs to be changed, but
> there is no light flashing. So, I guess the printer doesn't think it
> needs changing.
>
> So, how does one force the printer to allow a cart change?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

me@privacy.net wrote:
> A friend gave me this printer--they had it just sitting around. The
> black cart prints fine, but the color doesn't. My guess is that it is
> probably dried out. Did multiple nozzle checks/cleanings, no joy.
> Can't get it to move carts to "change" position. According to the info
> on the cover, a light will flash when the cart needs to be changed, but
> there is no light flashing. So, I guess the printer doesn't think it
> needs changing.
>
> So, how does one force the printer to allow a cart change?

http://files.support.epson.com/pdf/sc900n/sc900nu1.pdf

To replace a cartridge before the lights flash indicating a low level,
or are lit continuously indicating an empty cartridge, use the procedure
on page 83 of the manual titled-

Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge.
1. Make sure the printer is on but not printing, then open the cover.
2. Press the load/eject button (the icon that looks like a piece of
paper with a bent corner and an arrow on it) and hold it down for three
seconds until the print head moves to the left to the black ink
cartridge replacement position and the power light begins flashing.
3. If you need to replace only the color ink cartridge, press the
load/eject button again until the print head moves to the color ink
cartridge replacement position.
4. Change the cartridge.
5. Press the load/eject button. The print head either moves to the color
ink cartridge replacement position (if not already commanded there)
where you can choose to replace the color cartridge, or it moves home
and you can close the cover. If you replace the color cartridge at this
point, afterwards press the load/eject button to send in home and close
the cover.
6. After closing the cover the power light flashes and the printer will
begin charging for about a minute. When it's finished the power light
stops flashing and stays on.

 

[ME]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

Arthur Entlich wrote:
>
> I'm not sure if the 900 uses the exact same buttons, but on the 850,
> with the printer already on, press both the black and color cleaning
> buttons at the same time for a few seconds. This should place the black
> ink cartridge in the replacement area. If it does so, then press on the
> color cleaning button until the carriage moves further over for the
> color cartridge.
>
> Keep the old cartridge. You may need it if the head is clogged, to make
> a cleaning cartridge.
>
> If you need further information on cleaning the heads, email me and
> request my Epson Cleaning Manual.
>
> No fee,
>
> Art
>
> me@privacy.net wrote:
>
> > A friend gave me this printer--they had it just sitting around. The
> > black cart prints fine, but the color doesn't. My guess is that it is
> > probably dried out. Did multiple nozzle checks/cleanings, no joy.
> > Can't get it to move carts to "change" position. According to the info
> > on the cover, a light will flash when the cart needs to be changed, but
> > there is no light flashing. So, I guess the printer doesn't think it
> > needs changing.
> >
> > So, how does one force the printer to allow a cart change?

Thanks, Arthur,

Sorry, but there aren't both color and black cleaning buttons on the
900N. When I press the lone cleaning button for just 3 seconds (the
time interval stated on the cover for cartridge replacement), the darn
thing goes into a cleaning cycle. Any less time, and nothing happens.

The next poster in the thread suggested something that I will try.

Many thanks for your response, however.

Lakeside

 

[ME]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

tomcas wrote:
>
> me@privacy.net wrote:
> > A friend gave me this printer--they had it just sitting around. The
> > black cart prints fine, but the color doesn't. My guess is that it is
> > probably dried out. Did multiple nozzle checks/cleanings, no joy.
> > Can't get it to move carts to "change" position. According to the info
> > on the cover, a light will flash when the cart needs to be changed, but
> > there is no light flashing. So, I guess the printer doesn't think it
> > needs changing.
> >
> > So, how does one force the printer to allow a cart change?
>
> http://files.support.epson.com/pdf/sc900n/sc900nu1.pdf
>
> To replace a cartridge before the lights flash indicating a low level,
> or are lit continuously indicating an empty cartridge, use the procedure
> on page 83 of the manual titled-
>
> Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge.
> 1. Make sure the printer is on but not printing, then open the cover.
> 2. Press the load/eject button (the icon that looks like a piece of
> paper with a bent corner and an arrow on it) and hold it down for three
> seconds until the print head moves to the left to the black ink
> cartridge replacement position and the power light begins flashing.
> 3. If you need to replace only the color ink cartridge, press the
> load/eject button again until the print head moves to the color ink
> cartridge replacement position.
> 4. Change the cartridge.
> 5. Press the load/eject button. The print head either moves to the color
> ink cartridge replacement position (if not already commanded there)
> where you can choose to replace the color cartridge, or it moves home
> and you can close the cover. If you replace the color cartridge at this
> point, afterwards press the load/eject button to send in home and close
> the cover.
> 6. After closing the cover the power light flashes and the printer will
> begin charging for about a minute. When it's finished the power light
> stops flashing and stays on.

Many thanks, Tomcas,

I'll give that a try and post results.

Appreciate your reply very much.

Lakeside

 

[ME]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

tomcas wrote:
>
> me@privacy.net wrote:
> > A friend gave me this printer--they had it just sitting around. The
> > black cart prints fine, but the color doesn't. My guess is that it is
> > probably dried out. Did multiple nozzle checks/cleanings, no joy.
> > Can't get it to move carts to "change" position. According to the info
> > on the cover, a light will flash when the cart needs to be changed, but
> > there is no light flashing. So, I guess the printer doesn't think it
> > needs changing.
> >
> > So, how does one force the printer to allow a cart change?
>
> http://files.support.epson.com/pdf/sc900n/sc900nu1.pdf
>
> To replace a cartridge before the lights flash indicating a low level,
> or are lit continuously indicating an empty cartridge, use the procedure
> on page 83 of the manual titled-
>
> Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge.
> 1. Make sure the printer is on but not printing, then open the cover.
> 2. Press the load/eject button (the icon that looks like a piece of
> paper with a bent corner and an arrow on it) and hold it down for three
> seconds until the print head moves to the left to the black ink
> cartridge replacement position and the power light begins flashing.
> 3. If you need to replace only the color ink cartridge, press the
> load/eject button again until the print head moves to the color ink
> cartridge replacement position.
> 4. Change the cartridge.
> 5. Press the load/eject button. The print head either moves to the color
> ink cartridge replacement position (if not already commanded there)
> where you can choose to replace the color cartridge, or it moves home
> and you can close the cover. If you replace the color cartridge at this
> point, afterwards press the load/eject button to send in home and close
> the cover.
> 6. After closing the cover the power light flashes and the printer will
> begin charging for about a minute. When it's finished the power light
> stops flashing and stays on.

Tomcas,

Your suggestion/procedure worked like a champ! The heads positioned
themselves as you said for replacement. When I pulled the color
cartridge----I discovered the previous owner had never removed the
adhesive strip from the top of the cartridge, which prevented airflow
through the cart. I removed that, did a nozzle check (which returned
pretty good results), did and cleaning, and all is well!

MANY thanks for your tip!

Stranger