How to Fix Epson ET-8550 Sublimation Printer Printing with Lines and Clogs

Question:

I recently purchased a pre-owned Epson ET-8550 that was previously converted to sublimation. Unfortunately, all my prints have noticeable lines throughout them. I've tried multiple nozzle checks, several printhead cleanings (including one power clean), and printed numerous purge pages for each color. The yellow seems to print correctly, but other colors still show lines. I'm frustrated and suspecting ink clogs might be the culprit. What additional steps or techniques can you recommend? I've already reviewed several of your YouTube videos but haven't disassembled anything yet. I'd appreciate your expert guidance, especially video recommendations!

Answer:

Thank you very much for reaching out to us about your Epson ET-8550. I sincerely apologize for the delayed response, and I fully understand how urgent and frustrating printer issues can be. At BCH Technologies, we always aim to approach each problem thoughtfully and carefully to provide you with specific, detailed guidance. Your continued engagement and support, particularly with our YouTube channel, plays a crucial role in advancing our technical expertise—your feedback genuinely helps us grow.

Firstly, humor aside, buying used printers is indeed an adventure! There's usually a creative story behind every sale, like "I've lost the power cord, and so I'm forced to sell this excellent printer!" Always approach pre-owned printers with caution unless you've personally witnessed it printing flawlessly.

From your detailed description, it indeed sounds like you're dealing with some severe, possibly permanent printhead clogs or damage. Often, when printers are repeatedly converted between ink types—such as sublimation and regular ink—the risk of permanent printhead damage significantly increases. Since you have already tried standard cleanings, it's time to move to more aggressive cleaning methods.

Recommended Cleaning Steps:

Given the severity of your issue, you will need a robust cleaning solution, specifically formulated to address stubborn sublimation ink clogs. At BCH Technologies, we offer three specialized cleaning solutions—clear, green, and red. Each is formulated differently depending on the severity of the clog and the ink type used:

• Clear Cleaning Solution: Suitable for minor clogs with dye and pigment inks, this eco-friendly option dissolves minor clogs effectively. Learn more here.

• Green Cleaning Solution: Effective on dye, pigment, and sublimation inks. It’s moderately strong, environmentally friendly, and ideal for tougher clogs. Details available here.

• Red Cleaning Solution: This is our most powerful cleaning solution, specifically recommended for serious clogs like yours. It can tackle severe blockage issues with dye, pigment, and sublimation inks. Please note: this powerful cleaner shouldn't be left in your printer at full strength for longer than 24 hours. Further details here.

Given the severity of your issue, I strongly recommend directly using the Red Cleaning Solution combined with our specialized unclogging kit designed explicitly for the Epson ET-8550. This kit provides the optimal strength required to restore your printhead:

• Unclogging Combo Kit for Epson ET-8550

Cleaning Procedure:

1. Carefully remove the dampers from your printer's printhead.

2. Use the provided adapter and cleaning solution in the kit. Gently push the solution through the printhead using the included syringe. Ensure a tight seal and apply even, gentle pressure to avoid spilling any solution onto your printer's electronics, as this can permanently damage the mainboard and printhead.

3. Allow the cleaning solution to soak for approximately 30 minutes.

4. Reinstall the dampers and perform another nozzle check and cleaning cycle.

If these steps fail to resolve your issue, the clog might be irreparable, indicating permanent printhead damage. In such cases, replacing the printhead is usually necessary.

Addressing printer issues can indeed become complicated, particularly when dealing with severe clogging or potential hardware damage. Unfortunately, due to the hands-on nature of printer repairs, we're unable to offer direct remote troubleshooting or repair support. Instead, we provide comprehensive in-person diagnostic and repair services through our local facility. Due to high demand, please note we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and wait times can extend several weeks. We offer repair options both for complete printers and specific components, with clear guidelines to simplify the process. Recognizing that our rates might not be the most economical, we always recommend exploring self-help resources first. You can effectively use our extensive YouTube video library, utilizing the search feature (located next to "About" in the channel menu bar) to quickly find visual tutorials for your printer model. Given the extensive content we've produced over the past nine years, using the search function is the most efficient way to find relevant troubleshooting guidance—plus, YouTube might suggest additional valuable resources from other creators.

Thank you again for contacting BCH Technologies. Your patience, humor, and determination are greatly appreciated, and we're here to help you navigate your printer issues every step of the way!