How to Fix Clogs in Epson ET-8550: A Complete Guide for DIY Repairs

Question: I just bought a used Epson ET-8550, and it looks like it hasn’t been used very much. Several issues may have occurred by the time the ink has dried. Two colors print fine, one has dropout, and the last three are totally blocked. I have done a printhead cleaning and a maintenance cleaning, but very little improvement. I’m thinking that the clog may be in the hoses, dampers, or printhead. Is there a blockage in the tank too? I’m used to doing my own repairs, but this one is new to me. Can you please advise what to buy to help unclog the system, and if I need any extra tools, such as a priming tool to assist after cleaning?

Answer:

So, for your particular question about your Epson ET-8550, you are correct to suspect clogs anywhere between the ink tanks and the printhead, including in the hoses, dampers and printhead, and perhaps even the tanks themselves. Here’s a step-by-step process for tackling the clogging issue and getting your printer back up and running.

Step 1: Isolating What Is Clogging You stated that two colors print great, one has significant gaps and the other three are completely clogged. Which means that the problem is most probably in the ink flow system. Here’s how to hone in on the culprit:

Check the ink tanks and lines: If your ink levels are low or there are air bubbles in the tubes, this could be a sign that the ink isn’t getting through as it should, indicating a problem with an ink supply rather than a clog.

Check the dampers: Dampers can clog over time, causing an interruption in the ink delivery to the printhead. They’re likely worn if ink is not traveling beyond the dampers.

Check the head: If the dampers are clear, the blockage is likely in the head itself, in the nozzles or the internal channels.

Step 2: Cleaning and Unclogging Solutions Since you’re a DIY repair person, I’d suggest a more targeted approach to cleaning and unclogging the system:

Purge printhead: We have a printhead cleaning solution which is suitable for this purpose and dissolves dried ink. You will also need a syringe and tubing to syringe cleaning solution through the printhead gently to unblock it.

Inspect capping station and pump system: The capping station makes sure that printhead is perfectly encased when printer is inactive and facilitates its cleaning. Also, if ink is not being drawn through the printhead during cleaning cycles, the capping station, or waste ink tubes can be blocked. Flushing the capping station might be valuable to get proper ink flow.

Check and replace dampers: If ink isn’t getting to the printhead, dampers may be clogged and require replacement.

Step 3: Prime the Ink System After this cleaning process has been completed, you then have to prime the ink system that provides ink flow and to reduce potentially continuous clogs due to air bubbles. A priming tool can pull ink from the tanks through the dampers and into the printhead. We have a priming tool for this, which will make this process 100 times easier and a lot more efficient.

Products You Will Need for Your Repair Below are some products that will help you with your repair:

• Printhead cleaning solution
• Flushing the printhead with syringe and tubing
• Dampers (if needed)
• Ink system priming tool

I would recommend just searching your model on the BCH Technologies website (https://bchtechnologies.com) for a full part/tool list. On many product pages, we feature a "Related Products" section that may help you find what you seek.

You can find tips as to how to up your video guides with detailed tutorials with easy access in a similar fashion, the best way to go about this process is the search bar on our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). With over nine years of content, filtering by topic is the quickest way to find specific tutorials related to your issue.

Thanks for your support and understanding on navigating the nuances of getting the printer repaired. Thanks for considering BCH Technologies for your DIY project again, and I hope this guide will help you get your printer back in working order! Happy tinkering!