Epson L8050 Prints Slow After 9-10 Photos: CR Motor & Mainboard Overheating, Causes, and Cooling Fixes

Question: My Epson L8050 prints normally at first, but after about 9 to 10 photo prints it becomes very slow. The CR motor and main board get very hot. I replaced the motor and the board, but the problem is still the same. What should I check first, and what's the solution?

Answer: 

When an Epson printer prints fine at first and then slows down after several photo prints-while the CR (carriage) motor and mainboard heat up-that pattern strongly suggests the printer is entering a thermal protection / load protection mode. In simple terms: once temperatures or electrical load reach a threshold, the printer "backs off" speed to prevent damage. Replacing the motor and board doesn't always solve it if the root cause is still creating extra load or excess heat.

1) The most direct fix: add active cooling to the mainboard

Your proposed solution is on point: add a cooling fan aimed at the mainboard area.

Why it helps: The motor driver circuitry and voltage regulation components on the board can overheat during long, dense photo runs. Once they get too hot, the printer may slow down to reduce heat generation. A small fan improves airflow and can prevent the temperature from crossing that limit.

Best practice (general):

• Use a quiet, steady fan with consistent airflow.

• Aim airflow across the mainboard power stage (driver area / heat sink zone), not just the plastic housing.

• Make sure wiring is safe and secured so it can't snag the carriage path.

(Even if you replaced the mainboard, the same thermal environment and load conditions will overheat the replacement again.)

2) What to look at first: common causes of heat + slowdown (even after parts replacement)

A) Heavy photo settings and dense ink coverage (high electrical + mechanical load)

High-resolution photos with heavy saturation force the printer to work harder for longer:

• longer firing time on the printhead electronics

• higher continuous demand on the power stage

• more carriage movement and precise passes

Quick test: Print something lightweight (like a basic text document or a low-coverage test pattern).

• If the slowdown does not happen on light prints, then the printer is likely not "defective"-it's overheating under sustained photo load, and cooling/setting changes are the real solution.

B) Carriage friction, belt drag, rail/bearing binding (motor draws extra current)

Overheating in the CR motor often means the motor is being forced to work too hard. Even a brand-new motor will run hot if:

• the carriage rail is dirty or not lubricated properly

• the belt tension is too tight

• bearings/bushings are worn or misaligned

• something is rubbing (paper dust, ink mist buildup, warped cover, cable drag)

Hands-on check (power OFF and unplugged):

• Manually slide the carriage left/right.

• It should move smoothly with consistent resistance.

• If it feels "sticky," jerky, or heavy, fix mechanical friction first-otherwise the new motor/board will keep overheating.

C) Ventilation and ambient temperature (environmental heat soak)

If the printer is near a wall, inside a cabinet, or in a warm room, heat accumulates. After 9-10 photos, internal temps rise enough to trigger slowdown.

Easy improvements:

• Move the printer into open air with space around it.

• Keep vents unblocked.

• Avoid direct sun and enclosed desks.

D) Ink flow resistance (dampers/lines partially clogged) increasing stress

If ink flow is restricted-common with heavily pigmented third-party inks, old ink residue, or partially clogged dampers-the printer can behave erratically and work harder during printing.

What this can cause:

• inconsistent output that leads users to run repeated cleanings (which add heat and stress)

• increased power demand on control electronics during long runs

• extra strain as the system attempts to maintain consistent firing/pressure

While ink restrictions don't directly "heat the mainboard" like a short circuit would, they often create conditions (heavy usage, repeated cycles, prolonged printing time) that do.

E) Mainboard power-stage stress (driver overheating, heat-sink contact issues)

In some Epson designs, the motor driver/power components rely on:

• proper heat-sink seating

• correct thermal pad placement

• unobstructed airflow

If thermal pads are missing, shifted, or not making full contact, the driver area will overheat fast and trigger slowdown again.

Practical check (general):

• Confirm heatsinks, thermal pads, and shielding are correctly seated.

• Make sure nothing blocks airflow over the board.

3) Suggested test strategy (to isolate the root cause)

To avoid replacing more parts blindly, use this structured approach:

1. Low-density print test

   • Print a light page (text or low-coverage image).

   • If no slowdown: your printer is overheating primarily from photo workload.

2. Mechanical friction check

   • With power off, manually move carriage.

   • If stiff: focus on rail cleaning/lubrication, belt path, alignment, and anything rubbing.

3. Ventilation/cooling test

   • Run the same photo batch with the printer in open space + added airflow (fan).

   • If the slowdown happens later-or not at all-thermal protection is confirmed.

4. Temperature monitoring

   • If you have an IR thermometer, measure board/motor temps during the run.

   • Electronics getting into the 50-60°C+ range becomes risky for stability in many consumer devices, and performance throttling can occur to protect components.

5. Settings adjustment for long runs

   • Try standard quality instead of max photo quality.

   • Reduce print density/saturation if your software allows it.

   • Consider shorter batches with brief pauses to let heat dissipate.

4) About "error codes"

In many cases like yours, Epson does not show a clean "overheat error code" on-screen. Instead, the symptom is behavioral: speed drops after sustained printing, then returns after cooling. If your printer does display any specific code (for example, an "E-xx" style message, a numeric service code, or a "service required" warning), that code matters and should be referenced exactly-but your description aligns most strongly with thermal/load throttling without a clear code.

Printer problems can be complicated because the real cause is often hands-on-heat, friction, airflow, component seating, and mechanical drag can't be fully confirmed remotely. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, repair instructions, or direct repair support. 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 you can drop the printer off. Our services are set up to repair either the entire printer or specific parts, and we provide clear instructions on how to proceed. That said, we understand our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly recommend self-help research first.

You can begin with YouTube, including our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar to find videos by topic. I receive many daily questions asking for the exact video for a specific issue, and with years of uploads, it's difficult to recall every single one-YouTube's search is the fastest way to locate what you need, and it may also recommend helpful videos from other channels.

Thanks again for reaching out, and thank you for supporting BCH Technologies and our content. I hope the cooling + friction checks get your L8050 stable for long photo runs again.