How to Realign Gears in an Epson L1800 After Disassembling the Pump

Question

I purchased the assembly video for my Epson L1800 and watched the related videos on removing and cleaning the capping station. However, I bought the video after taking the pump apart. When I removed the pump to clean the tubes, the gears popped out, and I hadn’t marked their positions beforehand.
I noticed in the video that you mention marking or taking note of the gear positions. Are there factory marks I can use to realign the gears properly? Also, I had the wiper blade in the up position when I took it apart. If I reassemble everything as shown in the video and make sure the wiper and gears move in the correct order, will everything work fine? If there are no factory marks, am I out of luck, or is there still a way to realign the gears? Thank you for your helpful videos—they’ve been an essential resource for all our L1800 maintenance!
 

Answer

Thank you for reaching out to us, and I’m sorry for not being able to respond sooner. I understand how urgent printer repairs can be, mainly when your projects depend on them. At BCH Technologies, we deeply value your support and engagement with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), as it helps us continue developing solutions for printer users like you.
Now, let’s address your questions in detail.

Gear Alignment Without Pre-Marks

  1. Factory Gear Marks:
    Epson gears typically have factory markings, faint grooves or dots on the gears that align with specific positions. If these marks are still visible, you should be able to use them to realign the gears properly.
  2. Recovering Missing Marks:
    If the factory marks have worn out or are too faint to see, don’t worry. Abby from BCH Technologies has a reliable method to recover gear alignment even without pre-marks. We produced a detailed video demonstrating this technique and share it on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Also, we sent an update email to all of people who purchased our video. When you purchase any repair manuals or videos from bchtechnologies.com, you will automatically receive all the updates in the future.
  3. Trial and Error Alignment:
    If you’re unable to identify marks, you can reassemble the gears and test their movement manually:
    • Ensure the gears can rotate smoothly without obstruction.
    • Manually cycle the pump mechanism and check that the wiper blade and capping station move in the correct order.
  4. Wiper Blade Position:
    Having the wiper blade in the up position shouldn’t affect reassembly as long as you follow the assembly steps precisely. Push the wiper blade back down and reinstall the gears. Once assembled, verify the wiper and capping station movements to confirm proper alignment.

Testing After Assembly

After reassembly, run a cleaning cycle to observe the following:
  • The wiper blade should move smoothly and cleanly across the printhead.
  • The capping station should seal properly during idle mode.
  • The pump should draw ink correctly without jams or uneven movements.
 

Additional Considerations

Addressing printer issues can be complicated due to their hands-on nature. Unfortunately, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting or support for printer repairs. However, we offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service).
Repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks to get your printer evaluated. Our services cover all printers or specific parts, with clear instructions on drop-off or mail-in services. We also understand that our rates may be less economical, so we encourage self-help through online resources.
Our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) is an excellent starting point for self-help. Use the search function to find videos on specific topics or let YouTube recommend related tutorials from other creators.
Thank you again for contacting us! Your trust in BCH Technologies means a lot, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.