How to Access the Ink Tank Tubes on the Epson ET-8550 for Cleaning or Replacement

Question:
I just bought a refurbished Epson ET-8550, and my yellow ink tank is clogged. I took this printer apart based on your ET-8550 Ink Tank Remove & Replace and Uncasing & Mainboard videos. The printhead carriage still blocks access to the back of the ink tanks and tubes, though, and that’s not covered in the videos I watched.
I’ve removed all the panels but can’t get the printhead out. Do I need to plug the printer in and move the heads electronically, or is there a physical way to slide it without breaking everything? Any thoughts would be so appreciated!
 
Answer:
Thanks for getting in touch; sorry for the late response. Printer problems are always emergencies, and I try to respond comprehensively and carefully. We at BCH Technologies (https://bchtechnologies.com) appreciate your attention, especially to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback enables us to continue training and developing our technical skills.
 
Regarding the problem you described with the printhead carriage blocking access to the ink tanks and tubes on the Epson ET-8550, I have to tell you that there are two possible strategies for safely moving the printhead.
Option 1: Move Printhead Via Power Cycling

1. When you turn on the printer during initialization, could you wait for the printhead to start moving?
2. Now, the printhead moves to the left side and pulls out the power cable.
3. This way, the carriage will be in a position that allows for the maintenance of the ink tanks and tubing in subsequent steps.

 
Option 2: Rotate the Paper Feed Rod by Hand
Opting for a manual method—or you don’t feel like firing up the printer?

1. With the other hand's gentle motion, push the printhead slightly to the right—just enough to pull it out of its resting position.
2. The second step is to check the paper feed rod at the printer's back.
3. Rotating the paper feed rod counterclockwise should slowly unclip the printhead, allowing you to move it freely.
4. Once the print head is unclogged, you can unclog the yellow ink tank.

Either method should give you access without pulling anything off or breaking anything and damaging your printer.
 
Printer problems can be complex because the issues are tangible. We cannot troubleshoot printer repairs remotely or provide hands-on support. We have an onsite evaluation and repair service through our BCH Technologies repair shop (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Still, due to the high volume of machines we go through, this is handled on a first-come, first-serve basis and could take several weeks, depending on what is being handled. Depending on your need, we can repair the entire printer or individual parts, so we give you clear instructions. However, please research, as we acknowledge our rates are not the cheapest.
If you want to do this at home, head to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and search for specific videos. I get a lot of daily questions about certain subjects, and because we’ve made videos over the last nine years, it’s hard to keep track of it all. The best way to discover solutions will be to search directly on YouTube. YouTube might even suggest valuable videos from other creators that can help you.
Again, thank you for your support and for sending your question. Please let us know how it goes, and good luck repairing your ET-8550!