Fixing Ink Flow After Putting a Nipple Conversion Setup in an Epson ET-8550

 Question:

I recently installed new dampers and a nipple conversion system on my Epson ET-8550. I ensured that the nipple casing was unclogged and that the printhead was brand new. I also applied silicone to make it waterproof. However, the ink doesn't come through during power or printhead cleaning. I haven't been able to get the printer running even once after this upgrade. The lines aren't clogged because I can manually pull ink through with a syringe without any issues. What could be wrong? I feel like I'm missing something.

Answer:

Thank you for reaching out! I am so sorry I couldn't write to you earlier. I empathize with printer problems, especially after you installed a new system that is not working as expected. We are taking the time to get you a comprehensive response to ensure we consider all potential sources of this issue.

Here are some possible causes for your printer ink not flowing through the printhead even though you have adjusted it.

Step 1: Don’t use power cleaning as a primer

First of all, note that Power Cleaning is not used to prime a printhead after installation of a new ink system. Instead, Power Cleaning is intended to correct print quality issues rather than refill empty printhead nozzles with ink. Running Power Cleanings after this will only use a lot of ink and won't solve the root problem.

All About Power Cleaning:

• It fails to prime a printhead properly after a fresh install.
• It consumes way more ink than it needs to be and can introduce back pressure into the ink system.
• Epson advises waiting 12 hours between Power Cleanings, which means too much usage can postpone troubleshooting.

So again, instead of doing power cleaning, we have to prime the printhead ourselves.

Step 2: Prepping the Printhead for Ink Flow

Your ink lines are visible, but the problem can be found in transporting the ink through the dampers and into the printhead. Here is a step-by-step guide to properly priming the printhead and balancing the ink pressure:

Set the Printhead on the Capping Station

• Please turn on the printer and let it usually rest on the capping station (the part where the printhead sits when idle).
• This guarantees that the printhead is adequately sealed to the capping station, which is essential for priming.

Pull Air from the Waste Tube Manually

• Attach a syringe and tube to the printer’s waste line (the tube leading from the capping station to the waste ink container).
• Draw up only 3 ml of air slowly with the syringe.
• This process uses suction to pull ink from the cartridges through the dampers into the printhead.

Watch this process here on YouTube for a visual guide at 8:00 minutes. Watch video (https://youtu.be/_pyLQsfn4mQ)

Balance the Ink Pressure

• Pull the syringe and hold it for approximately 30 seconds to allow the ink to settle inside the printhead.
• If you're only getting air, the printhead must not be seated properly, or there is a leak in the capping station.
• A filled resistance typically indicates a clogged capping station that restricts ink from moving through the system.

Run a Regular Cleaning Cycle (Not a Power-Cleaning)

After priming the printhead, perform a standard cleaning cycle using the cleaning function built into the printer.

This will help draw ink into the nozzles to load the printhead.

Step 3: The Ink Flow — Keeping an Eye

If no ink is running through, prime the printhead, then run a standard cleaning cycle through the printer and check if ink moves down the waste tube.

Ink is coming through the waste tube, but prints are blank:

• The printhead is still airlocked. Re-do the priming step once more.
• Print a solid color test pattern that should help get some ink through the nozzles.

If no ink is flowing at all:

• There could be a problem with the capping station's sealing.
• Check if damper membranes are clogged or defective — consider replacing them.
• The printhead may be blocked or defective.

More Tips for Keeping Ink Flowing

Regular Cleaning to Avoid Jams

I run intense cleanup cycles at the beginning and end of the day on some DTF setups (because we print for 12+ hours a day). Note that you should never use substantial cleaning to prime a new printhead, it wastes too much ink.

Instead, I recommend:

• Perform a cleaning maintenance of every four designs or 6 feet of printing.
• This way, the nozzles are cleared without wasting too much ink.

Watch for White Ink Clogs

White ink tends to clog very easily, especially at the top of the ink channels. I really appreciate the video about why white ink clogs. Watch the video (https://youtu.be/Ey3wsy9V4zs)

Final Thoughts

Due to the nature of repairs, printer troubleshooting can be challenging. We cannot assist with remote troubleshooting or direct repair support. However, we provide an in-person evaluation, one of our "who do you think we are?" face-to-face printer repair services, details here (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). We are truly snowed under right now and operate on a first-come-first-serve basis, so while we would love to help, it may be a couple of weeks before we can take your printer in for diagnosis.

If you want to do it yourself, I encourage you to explore our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). The search icon next to your account name on our channel homepage allows you to search for videos on nipple conversion, printhead priming, and ink flow troubleshooting. With over nine years of content, YouTube is the fastest method for specific troubleshooting videos.

Thanks again for reaching out and for your understanding and continued support of BCH Technologies. This information is useful to you in getting your ET-8550 to function correctly. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I’ll help you as best as possible!