Troubleshooting Ink Flow Issues After Installing Dampers in Epson EcoTank 8550

Question: I just added dampers to my Epson EcoTank 8550. I attempted to power clean the dampers to bring ink back but to no avail. If not, will drawing ink with a syringe from the waste hole connected to the printhead work?

Answer:

Yes, your approach makes sense, and it is a practical method when you’re sure that the printhead is not clogged. Here is how you can proceed and some additional considerations: 

Check the Printhead Getting Positioned: Ensure the printhead is parked adequately over the capping station before using a syringe. Again, if it is not sealed correctly, suctioning from the waste line may not allow for effective ink drawing.

Air Draw Slowly:  Attach the syringe to the waste port (connected to the main ink tanks through the printhead). Draw 1-2 ml of air slowly. You want to feel a slight resistance here. If there is a lack of resistance, it could mean one of the following:

• The printhead is not parking properly
• The capping station is broken, and the printhead cannot be adequately sealed. Please inspect the capping station and repair or replace it.

Don't Overdraw Too much suction damages the printhead or pulls air into the ink lines, compounding the issue. Work gently and methodically.

Regular Cleaning: Once you have successfully pulled ink through the system, you should run a regular cleaning cycle instead of a power cleaning. Powerclean consumes a lot of ink and may not be needed if the ink is already flowing.

If the Printhead is Clogged

The above method will only work if the printhead is clear. In such a case, you may be required to:

• Use a printhead cleaning solution.
• Manually flush the printhead with a cleaning fluid.
• In case of blockage in the ink dampers or tubing.

A Note on Troubleshooting

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks to get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren’t the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel’s homepage [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Look for specific videos using the search icon next to “About” on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it’s challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube’s search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.