How to Fix Yellow Ink Not Printing on an Epson ET-8550 Sublimation Conversion

Question:

I converted my Epson ET-8550 to sublimation, but now the yellow ink won't print at all. I suspect there's a clog in the line or damper. I'm not very printer-savvy and have several holiday orders to fulfill. I tried finding videos on removing air clogs or flushing the damper but couldn't locate them. I'm based in Charlotte-can I bring the printer in for repair?

Answer:

1. Understanding Why Yellow Isn't Printing

When one color (in this case, yellow) fails to print after converting an Epson ET-8550 to sublimation, it's usually caused by one of the following:

• Air trapped in the ink line or damper. This is very common after refilling or performing maintenance.

• Clogged printhead nozzle or capping station. Sublimation ink is thicker than standard dye ink, so it can dry or gel faster, leading to blockages.

• Improper parking of the printhead. If the printhead doesn't rest perfectly on the capping station, the printer cannot maintain suction, and ink flow stops.

2. Parking the Printhead Properly

To safely park the printhead on the capping station:

1. Turn on the printer and allow the printhead to settle naturally on the capping station. Do not move it manually while the power is off.

2. Once the printer is in its resting position, it's safe to proceed with the next step.

3. Using the Waste Line to Prime the Printhead

Since sublimation ink is thicker, it sometimes needs a bit of help to start flowing properly. You can use a syringe and a silicone tube to gently prime the printhead via the waste line.

Here's the process step by step:

1. Connect a syringe and tube to the waste ink line (the tube leading from the capping station).

2. Gently draw about 1.5 ml of air.

   • At this point, you should feel slight resistance.

   • If you only draw air and get no resistance, the printhead may not be sealed correctly on the capping station or there's a leak in the seal.

3. If you feel complete resistance and can't draw anything, the capping station itself might be clogged, preventing ink flow. This needs to be resolved before continuing.

4. Once you reach around 1.5 ml, you might hear a soft crinkling sound-that's the membrane inside the damper flexing, which indicates the ink nozzles are open.

5. Slowly draw up to 2 ml of air (make sure the black rubber passes the 2 ml mark).

6. Hold this position for about 10 seconds to allow ink to be pulled through the channels.

This process helps remove air clogs and reestablish suction in the ink lines.

4. Running a Cleaning Cycle (With Caution)

After priming, perform a regular cleaning cycle from the printer's maintenance menu.

• Avoid using "power cleaning" or strong cleaning options within 12 hours.

• Do not perform back-to-back cleanings-let the printer rest between them to prevent overheating or over-pressurizing the ink system.

If the yellow ink begins to show faint traces after cleaning, you're on the right track. A couple of gentle cleanings over time should fully restore color flow.

5. Preventing Future Clogs

• Use high-quality sublimation ink formulated for Epson EcoTank printers.

• Keep the printer powered on so it performs automatic mini-cleanings to maintain nozzle hydration.

• Print a small test image every few days, especially when not in heavy use, to keep the ink circulating.

• Ensure your workspace has moderate humidity (ideally 40-60%) to prevent ink drying in the nozzles.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Therefore, we're unable to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. However, we do offer an in-person diagnostic and repair service at our local BCH Technologies repair facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, services are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can accommodate your printer drop-off. Our repair services include full printer restoration or part-specific repairs, depending on your needs. While our rates may not be the most economical, we highly encourage self-guided troubleshooting through YouTube-beginning with our BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to find tutorials that match your printer model or problem.

Thank you again for contacting us and for being part of the BCH Technologies community. Your support and engagement help us continue creating valuable content for printer users worldwide.