Epson L1800 Printing Only Small Black Lines- Causes and Fixes

Question:
I have an Epson Procolored L1800 printer. I’ve already checked the motherboard and fuse, cleaned the lines, and replaced the printhead. However, when I run a test page, it only prints small black lines. What could be causing this?

Answer:

The fact that you’re seeing a black line during the test print is good news—it means your mainboard, fuse, and ink delivery system are functioning. This narrows the issue down to two main possibilities: the printhead may not be fully primed, or the capping station may be faulty.

Here’s how to proceed:

1. Prime the Printhead Properly

Since you’re using DTF ink, which is thicker than regular ink, the printhead may need extra help to get started. This process is often called a “park and prime”:

• Turn the printer on and allow the printhead to move and settle naturally on the capping station.

• With the printhead parked, connect a syringe and tube to the printer’s waste line.

• Gently draw 2 ml of air, starting with 1.5 ml. At this point, you should feel slight resistance.

If you only draw air with no resistance, the printhead might not be seated correctly on the capping station, or there could be a leak in the capping station’s seal. If you feel complete resistance from the start and cannot draw any ink or air, the capping station could be clogged—this must be resolved before priming can work.

A promising sign during this process is hearing the damper’s membrane crinkle, which means the nozzles are opening. Slowly draw up to the full 2 ml mark, making sure the black rubber inside the syringe passes the mark, then hold for 10 seconds.

2. Run a Cleaning Cycle (But With Care)

Once you’ve done the park and prime, run the printer’s standard cleaning cycle. Avoid performing a strong cleaning within 12 hours, and never run back-to-back cleaning cycles without allowing the printer to rest. Over-cleaning can stress the printhead and waste ink.

Addressing printer issues can be a tricky process because of the hands-on nature of repairs. We can’t offer remote troubleshooting or one-on-one repair support, but we do provide an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) at our local diagnostic facility. Please note that service is first-come, first-served, and it may take several weeks before your printer is ready for drop-off. We repair either full printers or specific parts, with clear steps on how to proceed. While our rates may not be the lowest, you can also explore self-repair options through online resources. A great place to start is by searching our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for related topics—use the search icon next to “About” to find specific videos. With nine years of content, we sometimes need to search to find older tutorials. Plus, YouTube may recommend helpful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for your question and for supporting BCH Technologies—we appreciate your trust and look forward to helping you keep your printer in top shape.