epson printer

[blink]

does anyone know how to clean the heads on a stylus 640 ?

[DonJ]

Go here for documents related to your 640. (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=14424&infoType=Doc)

"Clean the print heads by running the head cleaning utility in the printer driver. Then, print another nozzle check. The nozzle check and head cleaning are recommended as a cycle in order for the head cleanings to be most effective. ...from FAQs. (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoType=FAQDet&oid=14424&prodoid=8277&FAQCat=General&FAQCursor=1&FAQTitle=Printer&menuSpec=15)

[blink]

thanks don j for the answer but i've already tried their utilities.been in contact with their support too.they won't tell me how to do it .go figure

[silencio]

If alcohol doesn't work you may have a hosed print cartridge. <insert joke here>

[constructor]

Sometimes I find the Epson 640 (and other) print heads block so much you have to take the top off the case.
Take the 2 screws out of the print head holder and remove it.
Then clean it up with contact cleaner. Reinstall

9 times out of 10 it will then detect the cartridges and all is well

[geoscomp]

Or you can do it the authorized Epson way...get a small piece of felt..cut to the size of the end of the print head..soak in non-alcohol based print head cleaner..(alcohol can dry out the rubber parts on the spot where the head rests) and soak with the pad between the head and the rest for 24 hours..do a cleaning and retry..if that doesn't work, repeat at least once more before buying and calibrating a new head. If you buy the cleaner from epson, plan on spending about $80 a pint or so.(but a pint at our shop did about 200 heads and only showed a slight reduction in volume.) Glad I don't work at an Epson authorized service center anymore

[constructor]

Originally posted by geoscomp
about $80 a pint or so.(but a pint at our shop did about 200 heads and only showed a slight reduction in volume.) Glad I don't work at an Epson authorized service center anymore

Amen to that

At 80 bucks a bottle I think I would ease the printer gently out of the 6th floor window and buy a new one.:)
Obvious that Epson does not like you doing home repairs

[Damned Angel]

Originally posted by constructor
Amen to that

At 80 bucks a bottle I think I would ease the printer gently out of the 6th floor window and buy a new one.:)
Obvious that Epson does not like you doing home repairs

Thats what I usually tell anyone that comes in with an off warranty epson. Its cheaper to replace it than pay to get it fixed. When I show people the specs of the $60 hp printers compaired to the specs of their broken down epson and tell them its going to be a minimum of $65 to have it looked at by an epson service center, they usually buy the HP.