Epson ET-8550/ET-8559 DTF Conversion Error: "Transportation Lock Is in the Transporting Position" and How to Troubleshoot It

Question

I purchased an Epson ET-8559 DTF printer from another seller, then later purchased a conversion control board, DTF CISS, and DTF ink bundle. When I try to print, the printer keeps showing this message:

"Transportation lock is in the transporting position. Set it to the printing position."

The problem is that there is no transportation lock on the printer anymore because it was removed when I was shown how to operate the printer. I attached a video of the issue and the items I purchased. Can you help me get the printer working? I am willing to send it in for repair if needed, but I would prefer to fix it myself if possible.

Answer

The message "transportation lock is in the transporting position. Set it to the printing position" can be misleading on converted Epson printers such as the ET-8550 or ET-8559. Even though the printer is telling you to check the transportation lock, the actual problem may not be the physical lock itself. In many cases, the printer displays this warning when the carriage cannot move correctly during startup or during the first part of its movement.

In other words, the printer may think the carriage is being blocked by the transportation lock because the printhead carriage is unable to travel normally from the right side of the printer toward the left. This can happen before the carriage moves past roughly the first quarter of the printer's width. If the carriage resistance or obstruction happens early enough, the printer interprets the problem as if the transportation lock is still engaged.

Since you mentioned that the transportation lock was already removed, I would troubleshoot this as a CR carriage movement problem, not simply as a missing or misplaced lock issue. "CR" refers to the carriage return system, which includes the printhead carriage, carriage rail, timing belt, encoder strip, motor movement, tubing path, and anything that may interfere with the carriage's motion.

The first thing I would check is whether the printhead carriage can move freely when the printer is powered off. With the printer unplugged, gently move the carriage by hand if it is accessible and not locked in the capping station. Do not force it. If it feels stuck, rough, or unusually tight, something may be physically blocking it. On DTF-converted ET-8550/ET-8559 printers, this is commonly caused by the CISS tubing being too tight, twisted, routed incorrectly, or catching on the printer frame. If the tubes pull against the carriage too early, the printer may believe the carriage is locked.

Pay close attention to the tubing path from the CISS system to the printhead. The tubes should have enough slack for the carriage to travel fully from right to left and back again without pulling, stretching, bending sharply, or rubbing against the housing. The tubing should move smoothly with the carriage. If the tubes are too short, zip-tied too tightly, twisted, or placed where they snag on the cover or inner frame, the carriage may stop during startup and trigger the transportation-lock warning.

Another area to inspect is the capping station, which is located on the right side of the printer. If the capping station, wiper blade, pump assembly, or any part of the parking mechanism is not seated correctly, the printhead carriage may not release properly. In that situation, the carriage may try to move left, meet resistance, and then stop. The printer may not know the exact mechanical cause, so it reports the transportation lock message instead.

Also check for anything that may have fallen into the carriage path. This can include small plastic pieces from the conversion, shipping foam, a loose screw, a cable, a tube clip, a piece of tape, dried ink buildup, or part of the modified DTF setup. Even a small obstruction can stop the carriage at the beginning of its travel.

The encoder strip should also be checked. This is the thin clear strip that runs behind the carriage. If it is dirty, dislodged, scratched, or not seated properly, the printer may lose track of the carriage position. While this may not always create the exact transportation-lock message, it can cause carriage movement errors and startup failures. If you clean it, use care and avoid aggressive rubbing. A lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water or proper cleaning solution is usually safer than alcohol-heavy cleaning, depending on the strip condition.

Since you installed a conversion control board, I would also inspect the wiring and board installation. A loose cable, reversed ribbon cable, partially seated connector, or cable routed into the carriage path can create unusual startup behavior. Make sure the board installation did not interfere with the carriage, the sensor connections, or the movement of the printhead assembly. If the control board changes how the printer handles cartridge/ink detection or DTF operation, the mechanical side still has to complete its startup sequence correctly before printing can begin.

For this specific warning, I would troubleshoot in this order:

First, confirm that nothing is physically blocking the printhead carriage on the right side. The carriage must be able to leave the capping station smoothly.

Second, inspect the CISS tubes. Make sure they are not too tight, twisted, kinked, or catching on the printer body. The tubes should have enough travel range for the carriage to move across the full width without resistance.

Third, check the capping station and parking area. If the capping station is raised, jammed, shifted, or obstructed, the carriage may not release.

Fourth, check the encoder strip and carriage rail. The carriage rail should be clean and lightly lubricated if needed, and the encoder strip should be clean and properly positioned.

Fifth, inspect the conversion board and cables. Make sure no cable or added part from the conversion is interfering with the carriage movement.

Sixth, power-cycle the printer after each mechanical correction and observe when the error appears. If the error appears immediately as the carriage tries to leave the right side, that strongly supports the idea that the printer is detecting a carriage movement obstruction rather than a true transportation lock issue.

Because this is a converted DTF printer, the issue may be caused by the conversion itself rather than the original Epson mechanism. The ET-8550/ET-8559 was not originally designed for DTF ink delivery tubing, so the routing of the external ink system is very important. A tube path that looks acceptable while the printer is idle may still become too tight once the carriage starts moving.

If you can fix it yourself, the most likely solution is to reroute the tubes and remove whatever is stopping the carriage from moving freely. If the capping station is the problem, the repair may be more involved because the right-side service station has several moving parts. If the carriage was forced or repeatedly blocked, there could also be damage to the CR motor, belt, carriage sensor system, or related components.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Because of that, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer for drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either the whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we understand that our repair rates may not be the most economical option. For that reason, we strongly recommend self-help through online research whenever possible. A good place to begin is YouTube, including our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to search for specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking about videos for particular problems. Since we have created videos for many years, it is difficult to remember every single one, so YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to locate the most relevant video. YouTube may also recommend helpful videos from other repair channels.

Thank you again for reaching out and for providing the details about your ET-8559 DTF setup. Based on the message you are seeing, I would focus first on the carriage movement path, the CISS tube routing, and the capping station area rather than assuming the missing transportation lock is the actual cause.