Replacing an Epson ET-8550 Printhead Without Powering On the Printer

Question:

I was watching your video for "#1 Trick ET-8550 DTF Conversion - Upgrading Printhead with Nipples for Better White (Ink) flow" wonder if I can perform the upgrade on a new Epson printer before it powers on, or can I somehow avoid sliding the printhead over myself?

Answer:

Is It Possible to Upgrade the Printhead Without Turning the Printer On?

So yes — it is possible to do the printhead upgrade on a fresh-out-of-the-box Epsonwithout the printer ever being powered on. That said, you’ll still have to manually slide the printhead across to remove it.

How to Move Printhead on Printer Without Powering Printer

If the printer is off, the printhead should be parked in a locked position. To manually free it:

Find the PF Rod (Paper Feed Rod) – The PF Rod as it relates to the internal workings of the printer is the large metal rod that runs parallel to the printhead assembly.

Cure PF Rod Counter – PF The rod will separate from Melt to Free spin from printing

Loosen & Slide Printhead – After it pops off, gently slide it to the side to reach & upgrade with the new nipplies allowing white ink flow.

Using this method you can replace the printhead without turning on the printer, minimizing the risk of automatic initialization processes disrupting your DTF change outs.

What Does This Mean for Your DTF Conversions?

Does not waste OEM ink — When you switch on a new printer, it self-initialises and pulls ink through the system, which can lead to wastage of OEMs cartridges.

Avoids unwanted firmware updates — Some printers will do an automatic firmware update when they’re powered on which can prevent certain DTF alterations.

Manual control over installation – you get to move the printhead yourself and if you make adjustments, the printer will not hinder you.

More Troubleshooting & Support Options

Printer conversions and modifications are hands-on services (and we don't do remote tech support) but we also perform these at our in-shop repair center [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. We provide service on a first-come, first-served basis; wait times will vary. We provide straightforward guidance on whether you require a total printer repair or perhaps a toner replacement and so forth. But repair, by its nature, isn’t always the cheapest, so we advocate do-it-yourself solutions and self-troubleshooting whenever we can.

Go to our YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies] for further troubleshooting advice; just type DTF onto the search bar that appears next to "About" on the right hand side of the menu bar and watch the related videos regarding conversions and printhead upgrades. Since we’ve made quite a few videos over the years, searching by topic is the quickest way to find relevant content. Plus, there may be great videos that could help you set things up from other creators that YouTube will recommend for you.