PCTech Forums

Ok I have a cheaper Canon printer, but it prints great normally. recently I have noticed that the black keeps printing less than satisfactory. I have tried realigning the print head but that isn't as easy it one would think. Is there anyway I can get the printer to print black nicely again without having to buy another printer?

have you tried a new ink cartridge? sounds like you might be running low on black.
Also, see if there is a print head cleaner system built into your printer. If so, run that a few times.

It is not the ink cartridge, I have replaced it several times, but I am just wanting to fix the alignment problem. It is not because it is dirty I have tried cleaning it. It is simply unaligned.

My question is:: is there an easy way to re-align the printhead? I can't do it just by doing the print head alignment tests. I can't tell which way the heads need to go.

You have to contact epsons parts dealers and see if you can get a replacement head from them. Replacing it wouldnt be hard, you just have to be careful not to touch the actual "face" of it. I dont know if it would be worth it though, that would depend on the price of the part if its avaliable.

Heres some contact info that may help you

User Replaceable Parts

Contact an autorized Epson parts distributor to purchase replacement parts.

Compass Micro, Inc. (503)408-8725 or (800)388-8595
National Parts Depot (845)469-4800 or (800)524-8338
Vance Baldwin Electronics (954)723-9191 or (800)432-8542

Give this web site a try, they have some good information

its for Cannon

I refill my Epson cartridges and the last time the printer started messing up I loaded both sides with an empty cartridge loaded with water and ran the clean utility. The key here, is that the ink is water soluble. My Epson 400 Stylus might have a few more years left in it.

As for a supplier, I use $3 for a b&w and $4 for a color cartridge isn't bad, and they are fast on delivery.

I have had the best sucess with refilling a cartridge one time only. Twice seems to be asking for trouble. So not only do I buy cheap cartridges, I refill them--I'm just saving some money so the wife can go out and spend it, go figure
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FYI: For those of you with an HP printer, the cartridge and print head are an all in one unit. Whereas the Epson they are separate