DesignJet 5500 cleaning error?

[mrwho]

Hello there, guys and gals!

I've got a customer call in because his DJ5500 was giving him an error related to the "Cartridge Cleaning" (which is the closest english translation I could get for the error - the machine is "speaking" our native tongue). On further talks, the customer told me that they had never exchanged the print heads (nor the cleaning units) and that they only use refilled ink.

I almost feel dumb for asking this, but could it be related?

Also, could a simple cleaning do the trick, or should I be prepared to charge the customer for a complete set of printheads and cleaning sets?

[fixthecopier]

I do a lot of plotter work. If the heads have never been changed, I would plan to change them. Also, open the rear cover and look at the ink tubes. You do not want to see air in there, if you do, get set up heads and purge the tubes. Check the belt very well and plan to change it with any signs of ware.

[mrwho]

Thanks for your reply. As you can guess, I'm more used to servicing copiers, all this plotter inkjet stuff is new for me.

You told me to check for air in the tubes - is that an easy thing to check? If there's air in there, should I see bubbles or anything?

Thanks once more!

[fixthecopier]

Yes, if it is bad, you can see it when it comes out of the back of where the dye packs are set. A little tiny bubble should not hurt, but a gap in the tube between ink that you can measure may be trouble. The set up heads are cheap, so if you are not sure, purge them anyway. I have had air in my last two, but mine are shipped from around the other side of the planet. If it was up and being used, you most likely do not have a problem. A sign that you have a problem is when it keeps trying to recover a printhead. "Banding" while printing is a sign of a bad head. Plan for a couple of hours if you need to change the belt and have never done it. Use the special "rail oil" on the rails after you clean them.