Reliable Replacement Pump Motors for Procolored K8 and Similar DTF Printers

Question
I watched a video discussing frequent motor failures on Procolored printers. My wife has a Procolored K8 DTF printer, and we've had repeated problems, mostly with the white ink circulation pump and waste ink pump failing. This is the second time the pump motor has died, and we don't want to risk using another Procolored-branded motor. What kind of pump motor would be a suitable replacement for the original Procolored OEM peristaltic pump?

Answer
Why these peristaltic pump motors fail so often

The small peristaltic pumps used for white ink circulation and waste ink in many DTF printers (including machines like the K8) are a known weak point. Failures are common for a few reasons:

1. Duty cycle & design choice

   • Some printers run the circulation pump too often or even almost continuously.

   • These little DC gear motors are not always rated for heavy continuous duty, so they overheat, wear the brushes, or strip gears internally.

   • As a result, you see recurrent failures even though you're using the printer "normally."

2. White ink is especially harsh

   • DTF white ink is loaded with titanium dioxide and other heavy pigments.

   • Those pigments can settle, thicken, and make the pump work harder, increasing load and stress on the motor.

   • Any partial clogging in the tubing or filter forces the motor to push against higher resistance, which shortens its life.

3. Low-cost or inconsistent OEM parts

   • Many OEM-branded peristaltic pumps are generic units re-labeled by the printer manufacturer.

   • Quality can vary from batch to batch-one motor might last months, another only a few weeks with the same usage.

Sometimes these failures are detected by the printer firmware and may show up as a generic "ink system error" or "pump error" on the display, depending on how the manufacturer programmed the machine. In many cases, however, there is no specific numbered error code at all-you just see that the white ink stops circulating or the waste ink tank never fills, and the motor is either stuck or completely dead.

What kind of replacement pump motor can you use?

The good news: your pump is a peristaltic pump, and in many cases you don't have to buy the exact OEM Procolored part. You can often replace it with a compatible third-party pump, as long as you match a few key specifications.

1. Voltage: match it exactly

From what's typically used in these setups, the pump motor is usually 24V DC, and your original note lines up with that. You must match this voltage:

• If the original pump is 24V, replace it with 24V only.

• Using a 12V pump on a 24V line will burn it instantly.

• Using a 24V pump on a 12V line may make it too weak to circulate the ink properly.

Before ordering, it's best to:

• Check the label on the existing pump (if still readable), or

• Trace the wiring back to a clearly marked 24V rail on the power supply.

2. Tubing material: choose the white tube, not the yellow

You mentioned white vs yellow tubing, and that's an important detail:

• White tubing is typically silicone or a similar ink-friendly, flexible material.

  • It handles DTF and pigment inks well.

  • It stays flexible longer and is less likely to crack or harden.

• Yellow tubing is often a different material (sometimes a type of PVC or other plastic) that may not be as chemically resistant or may stiffen faster with certain inks.

For DTF white ink circulation, you want:

• A peristaltic pump with white (silicone) tubing,

• The same inner diameter (ID) as your original tube, so it fits onto your existing barbs/fittings and maintains roughly the same flow rate.

If the tube ID is wrong:

• Too small → more back-pressure → more stress on the motor.

• Too large → flow rate changes and may upset the way the printer is calibrated to circulate or drain ink.

3. Physical form factor & connections

Even if any 24V peristaltic pump will "work" electrically, it still needs to fit:

• Mounting holes / brackets: Check whether the new pump has a similar mounting pattern and size so you can bolt it into the existing location.

• Inlet/outlet orientation: Ideally the hoses will line up similarly to avoid kinking or excessive bends.

• Electrical connector:

  • Some pumps have bare wire leads.

  • Others have a 2-pin plug.

  • You may need to reuse your original connector by cutting the old pump off and soldering/crimping the wires onto the new pump.

As long as you maintain the correct polarity (if relevant) and keep connections secure, the printer's control board will just see it as a standard DC load.

4. Flow rate and motor load

Most small DTF peristaltic pumps are in a fairly similar flow range, but if you're shopping by specs:

• Look for a pump with similar or slightly higher flow rate than the original unit, not drastically higher.

• You want the motor to be strong enough to handle the ink but not so oversized that it draws too much current for the printer's board.

If exact numbers aren't available, staying with a pump of similar physical size and tube ID is usually close enough for practical purposes.

Practical recommendation in your situation

Given your description:

• The current Procolored OEM pump motor has failed twice.

• You likely have a 24V peristaltic pump with relatively small silicone (white) tubing for white ink circulation and a similar arrangement for the waste pump.

A reasonable approach is:

1. Confirm the voltage from the pump label or wiring (very likely 24V).

2. Buy a 24V peristaltic pump that:

   • Uses white (silicone) tubing,

   • Has a similar tube size to your original,

   • Has a similar body size so you can mount it in the same place.

3. Reuse the printer's wiring connector, if necessary, by splicing it onto the new pump's wires.

4. After installation, test:

   • White ink circulation (you should see visible movement in the tubes),

   • Waste pumping (during cleaning cycles) to confirm it's evacuating ink as expected.

Keep in mind that even with a better pump, if the printer's firmware runs it very frequently, it will still experience higher wear than a lightly-used unit. Regular maintenance (keeping lines clean, filters from clogging, and white ink agitated) can help the new pump last longer.

Addressing printer issues can be tricky because so much of it depends on physical inspection, hands-on measurements, and how the machine behaves in real time. For that reason, we're not able to provide full remote troubleshooting or one-on-one repair support over email or comments. Instead, we offer an in-person evaluation and repair option through our local diagnostic facility, which you can learn more about here: BCH printer repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, it's strictly first-come, first-served, and there can be a wait of a few weeks before we can take in another printer. Our services are set up to handle either complete printer repairs or specific component repairs, with clear instructions on how to proceed. That said, our pricing may not be the lowest option available, so we strongly encourage self-help and DIY research where possible. A great place to start is our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar to look up topics like "DTF pump," "white ink circulation," or your printer model. I get many questions every day asking, "Do you have a video on X?" and after nine years of making videos, I honestly can't remember every single one. The YouTube search box will usually find what you need much faster-and it may also show you other creators' videos that are helpful for your exact machine.

Thank you again for your message and for taking the time to watch and follow our content. We really appreciate your patience and support, and I hope this gives you a clearer path forward in choosing a reliable replacement pump for your K8 DTF printer.