Epson 9890 Print Head dead twice? What to do?

[Zeb]

I have been using Epson 9890 with Image Specialist Pigment Inks since Feb'12.
All had been going gr8 until October, when Vivid Magenta started missing one
line in nozzle check which got cleared by a simple head clean through Menu.
A week later, the missing lines started to increase and about 6 lines on topand
4 lines on bottom were left. I couldnt clear the head despite numerous head
cleaning and power cleaning cycles.

Ultimately, in mid-November, I got the print head and damper assembly replaced
as advised and the printer started printing as new. But, today, the same problem
started in VM - lines started disappearing and no success with any sort of
cleaning.

Any help, as the replacement costed me a fortune and I am back to zero.

Regards,
Shahzeb Bhatti.

[framah]

Did they replace the wiper assembly as well?

[Wayne Fox]

Maybe quit using 3rd party inks?

[enduser]

How much actual printing did the machine do from new until problems started?

[Zeb]

It didnt even print 1 roll of photo paper.

[framah]

Wayne...  I didn't even notice that until I re read the OP.
I'd go with that reason as well.

[Atlex.com]

We don't recommend using 3rd party inks as issues like this can come around.  It's not guaranteed, but it can happen.  If the compatible inks do damage something in the printer, the manufacturer won't fix it as the warranty is usually voided from using non-oem ink.  We always recommend sticking with OEM inks to be safe.  Yes, 3rd party can possible help on costs, but sometimes it's better to be safe and spend a little extra.

You can check for a authorized service center near you to see why this is happening if the printer is out of warranty.  Here is the link to Epson's site for locations near you.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SuppProductSearch.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&find=service&Category

[John Nollendorfs]

It could easily have been a bad head also! But the high pigment loading on Image Specialists vivid Magenta ink could easily have been the culprit also.

[enduser]

It's pretty definitely the fact that less than a roll in 10 months isn't enough printing to keep heads operational.  Was the printer new in Feb '02 when you started using Image Specialists ink.  What happened to the inks that came with it if  it was new?

If it wasn't new, how much work had it done before Feb '02, and was it bought second hand.   There's a few things don't quite add up.  You say you've put less than a roll through it, but you also say "all was going well until October"?  Huh!

[Zeb]

The printer was new in Feb'12.
I didnt use the original 110 ml carts.
1 roll of paper was consumed in 1 month, after the new head was installed.
Generally, its 2-3 rolls that got printed per month.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Assume the 3 rolls are rolls of 30 meter length, 44" wide.  Roughly 100 M2, ink consumption 1 to 1.5 liter at $ 0.30 per ML is $ 300-450 a month with Epson inks. 9 months passed so in between $ 2700-4050 in Epson ink costs. At gallons the Image Specialists ink is about $ 0.10 per ML, so the price difference could be in your pocket if we do not count extra refillable carts costs;  $ 1800-2700.  I guess that is not enough to cover the costs of 2 head replacements. That leaves Image Specialists to complain to as I doubt Epson will do anything about it. The members here are already overloaded with complaints about x9x0 Epson printers with normal OEM ink :-) See the longest running thread in this forum.


--
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

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December 2012, 500+ inkjet media white spectral plots.