Canon TX-4000 error (EC21-2F61/Can't access service mode to change the printhead

[willy78]

Hey all,

First time poster - thanks for all the information. I'm a middle-school teacher with an awesome Canon TX-4000. It's been printing like a charm for the past two years but all of a sudden I'm getting error code EC21-2F61. Based on what I've read, it's likely a bad printhead (not sure how long they're supposed to last on average). I've already ordered a new one.

However, I can't get into the regular menu to change the printhead due to the error code. I've been trying to get into the service mode (Hold Power, hold area 4, hold area 3, hold area 2, etc) but it doesn't seem to be working either.

I'm just wondering what folks have done in this situation or if I'm doing something wrong.

Thanks in advanced!

[mosey1100]

Hey all,

First time poster - thanks for all the information. I'm a middle-school teacher with an awesome Canon TX-4000. It's been printing like a charm for the past two years but all of a sudden I'm getting error code EC21-2F61. Based on what I've read, it's likely a bad printhead (not sure how long they're supposed to last on average). I've already ordered a new one.

However, I can't get into the regular menu to change the printhead due to the error code. I've been trying to get into the service mode (Hold Power, hold area 4, hold area 3, hold area 2, etc) but it doesn't seem to be working either.

I'm just wondering what folks have done in this situation or if I'm doing something wrong.

Thanks in advanced!

This is what the service manual says about that error.

[willy78]

This is what the service manual says about that error.

Awesome - thank you!

I'm trying to get into the Diagnosis/Service mode, but the unit isn't letting me get into the service mode even though I've tried the technique describe above.

[blackcat4866]

If you can get the machine to come to "Ready" even momentarily, you can browse to the maintenance menu, then Replace Printhead. In my experience, you do not want to change the printhead while in service mode ... it will not recognize the replacement as a new printhead.

I don't know if this will work for you but on other Canon iPF plotters that are in an error condition that prevents the machine from coming to "Ready", I power OFF then will manually release the service station so that I can move the carriage, then remove the printhead. I close up the carriage and move the carriage back to the the service station, then power ON. The machine boots normally ... eventually requesting the installation of a printhead. Follow the tutorial.

Let me know if it works. =^..^=

[Canuck]

"As a tech"..lol...I would pop off side cover and uncap at purge unit. Getting into service mode then out if it might be necessary to clear error. Yes..I know it's a crap-shoot to get into service mode on the new ones

[willy78]

"As a tech"..lol...I would pop off side cover and uncap at purge unit. Getting into service mode then out if it might be necessary to clear error. Yes..I know it's a crap-shoot to get into service mode on the new ones

Good to know - all of this information is really handy everyone. I appreciate all the suggestions and will try all of them in the next day or two and give you an update.

Any other suggestions are welcome as well.

Thanks for helping out a tech-savvy (but still clueless) teacher!

[DFM914]

It is important when loading media that you tell the machine what type it is for proper head spacing between the head and paper. Example: If you load a heavy stock but tell the machine that it is plain paper, it is likely that the head will rub against the media causing premature failure.