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Thread ID: 32066 2003-04-08 06:02:00 HP inkjet cartridge Dataseeker (1289) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
134305 2003-04-08 06:02:00 I had 2 cartridges sitting on my shelf for a few months. Tried them out and only one colour printed. Called the crowd I got them off and was told that I had left them too long and that the ink had dried up [ these two had already replaced two others with the same problem and they were tried immediately after purchase but I digress ]
So, I smashed one open with my trusty hammer and lo!.. the ink flowed...everywhere, all 3 colours. So, I am thinking that the tiny aperatures through which the ink flows has gummed up.
My question is...does anybody know how to ungum or otherwise get this damned expensive cartridge flowing again?
Its a HP 51641A
TIA
Dataseeker (1289)
134306 2003-04-08 06:10:00 Try warm water (and be very gentle on the printhead). If that doesn't shift it, isopropyl alcohol will probably work. IPA comes with CD or floppy head cleaner kits. (And in cassette head cleaner kits ... try the $2 shop). Graham L (2)
134307 2003-04-08 06:12:00 Have heard, but not tried that dampen some toilet/tissue paper nice and moist. Leave the cartridge with the nozzles on the paper overnight, then put in printer and print straight away. Someone I talked to said he had done this so I can't gaurantee it, but worth a crack. Pheonix (280)
134308 2003-04-08 07:40:00 Another way is to get an old china cup, fill it with boiling water, then empty it and put in enough boiling water to just cover the print head, leave the cartridge standing in this for 5 minutes. If this does'nt succeed add a few drops of Jenola or similar bleach to the hot water. FrankS (257)
134309 2003-04-08 09:57:00 I hope you get them going Data, with the advice received. Seems good information, and worth a try.

I've had an HP DJ820 for a few years, and have been concerned at the life, and prices of carts for HP's. Tried refilling with limited success.

With these frustrations in mind, I recently purchased a Canon i320 printer. What a beauty. Very compact. The black text is not wonderful, but the colour for printing photos is excellent. In particular the EasyPhoto software that comes with the printer has many options for selecting, quality, paper types, sizes, & layout of 1 or more pics per any size page.

Apart from that, the carts are about 1/2 price for colour, and 1/4 price for black, compared with the HP's, although they are physically smaller, but do not contain the print head, like the HP's.

Early days yet. It is very new, & I've only printed about 20 colour pics, with excellent results, but I'll know later if these Canon carts have a reasonable life.

Bazza.
Bazza (407)
134310 2003-04-08 10:51:00 Similar to the above replies. Here's is my experience. Lexmark 3200 colour cartridge, includes print heads. Bought new, wouldn't work when got home. Technician told me about the water cure, said try it, and would replace if didnt work. Here's what I did:

Got a kitchen paper towel & folded twice. Placed it on a safe surface that wouldn't matter if ink went through the towel.

Put hot, but not boiling, water in old cup, just enough to cover the print heads.

Put cartridge in water so that print heads were just covered for a few minutes.

Removed from water and carefully placed the cartridge, print heads down, onto the folded paper towel. (ie dabbed it on the towel)

Lifted the cartridge and studied the towel to see if there was a tiny coloured spot for each of the three colours. (There was, but had there not been, then necessary to repeat the procedure)

Carefully dried the print heads by dabbing (not wiping) with paper towel, made sure there was no fluff and no water elsewhere, put in printer (promptly to avoid any drying out) and all worked well.

Good luck. :)
exLL (515)
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