To make the ink refilling process more manageable, I made a continuous ink system (CIS) for the Canon PIXMA Pro, which is now available on my website, BCHTechnologies.com. Today I’ll show you how to install the BCH continuous ink system on your printer. You can buy one under the “ink systems for canon” tab. You can also find it by typing CIS and/or Pro 9000 into the search bar.

When you order this kit, the box will contain external ink tanks, cartridges, and a bag of accessories. A CIS tank is comprised of two compartments. The larger of the two holds ink, and the smaller regulates airflow.

You need to let the ink flow into the bigger chamber, as its ink level should be higher than that of the smaller section for them to work correctly. The small chamber’s top needs to be open to the air for the transparent tank H model, but an air filter needs to be inserted for the black D model.

Rotate the tank so that the colored plug side is facing you. You will see the ink flow from the small tank to the big one. Then you can set the ink tanks up straight again. You should be able to see a visible difference in the ink levels between the two chambers if everything has gone well.

Place the ink tank next to the printer so that the tops of the chambers are level with the print head. Now we’ll need to open the printer and remove the OEM cartridges. Set these cartridges aside, faced upside down so the ink inside won’t flow out from the bottom.

Locate the eight silicone washers in the accessories bag with your purchase. Each washer has a short side and a long side. Place one washer on each ink intake with the short side facing toward you. Then take the bundle of cartridges and ensure the plastic tab faces you.

Remove the clip from the front. Using the plastic tab as a pivot point, rotate the clip, and it should come off fairly easily. Install the cartridges one at a time to their designated locations. The cartridge’s LED sensor should light up to indicate successful installation if everything goes according to plan. You can use the clips on these new cartridges to store the older ones.

If one of your cartridges doesn’t light up, check the connection between its contact points and the base. Move the carriage back and forth to see how much spare tubing you’ll need to leave it to avoid inhibiting its mobility. Install the tube support arm and wait around 24-48 hours for the tape glue to cure. You may want to secure the arm with a paperclip (or something of the sort) to prevent it from coming loose for the first few days.

Use the clip provided in your kit to secure the tubes together. Once the lines are in place and clipped, you will no longer be able to close the lid to your printer. Many printers won’t print if they know the cover is open. They have a small sensor that they use to detect this. Fortunately, this sensor is very easy to fool. Just take a folded-up piece of paper and wedge it in. The sensor will read that something is there and assume it’s the lid.

You should now be good to go. Have fun printing, and keep an eye on the print quality, so you’ll know when it’s getting close to running out of ink and will need to be refilled.

I hope this blog helped! For more DIY printer tips and tricks, follow me on YouTube at Kevin at BCH. Watch a video walkthrough for this process here. Happy printing!