Canon Pro-10 print head problem: Good morning all. I recently inherited a Canon Pixma Pro 10 printer that was about 4 years old, but not used in over 1 year. After starting it up, I...

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

Good morning all. I recently inherited a Canon Pixma Pro 10 printer that was about 4 years old, but not used in over 1 year. After starting it up, I printed a test page and saw that several of the 10 ink channels were either streaked or not showing any ink at all. All OEM cartridges showed abundant ink. I went through all of the steps recommended by Canon, and was able to restore all inks except red, which still appeared blocked. I then followed several you tube recommendations about soaking the printer head for several hours, followed by one or two deep cleaning cycles, all to no avail.
Short of buying a new printer head, around $195.00, does anyone on the forum have any other ideas? I’ve heard about ultrasonic cleaners, toothbrush cleaning, and other sorts of black magic, but I don’t want to ruin the printer head beyond repair, unless it is already toast.
Any help is appreciated.

twowindsbear

Have you contacted Canon's service center?

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

Not yet, it’s a weekend.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you know someone with a large enough ultrasonic cleaner for the print head, that is an excellent and non-damaging approach. Sometimes small engine repair shops have them to clean carburetor parts (BUT I would use just distilled water, diluted isopropyl alcohol, or an approved print head cleaning solution). That’s how draftsmen used to clean their clogged pens. K&E used to make such a cleaner and cleaning solution, and we have a shoe box sized one at work.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

TriX wrote:

If you know someone with a large enough ultrasonic cleaner for the print head, that is an excellent and non-damaging approach. Sometimes small engine repair shops have them to clean carburetor parts (BUT I would use just distilled water, diluted isopropyl alcohol, or an approved print head cleaning solution). That’s how draftsmen used to clean their clogged pens. K&E used to make such a cleaner and cleaning solution, and we have a shoe box sized one at work.

Good to know that is not an off the wall suggestion. I will try to find one.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

My Pro-100 did that. Canon support suggested that they don't sell very many $200 print heads because the price of new printer, always with rebates, is less!

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

bsprague wrote:

My Pro-100 did that. Canon support suggested that they don't sell very many $200 print heads because the price of new printer, always with rebates, is less!

Current price after $250 mail in rebate is $450. OEM new print head is $195 on eBay. The math is easy on this.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Call Canon. They are very supportive and competent.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Don't forget that a new one comes with a set of ink worth $135. So the $450 becomes $315. Then the difference between the eBay deal and a new one narrows to $120.

The math is better on a Pro-100. The "cost" after the value of the ink is about $75. That's a lot better than a new $200 print head.

When my Pro-100 broke, Canon suggested it might NOT be the print head itself, but failing electronics in the "motherboard". To find out, I would have had to take the printer to a Canon repair center. The minimum to look at it was $200. Then, IF it was determined to be the print head, that part would have been $200 more.

So the decision is to spend $200 on eBay or $315 for a new one, with warranty. The ink really counts. Canon phone support told me to take any or all of the partially used cartridges out of the broken one and put them in the new. It worked so I had a complete set of new cartridges. No expensive ink was wasted.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

bsprague wrote:

Don't forget that a new one comes with a set of in... (show quote)

I doubt it is the motherboard, as I was able to declog 4 other ink channels, leaving only the clogged red channel. The current ink cartridges are still 80% full, even after a few deep clean cycles. I hate to throw away a perfectly good and expensive printer if I can find an easy solution. If not, I may still go ahead with a new print head.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I hated to throw away a perfectly good printer that wouldn't print one color too! The "new" second printer doesn't do anything better than the "old" first printer except get all the colors to squirt out right!

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

bsprague wrote:

I hated to throw away a perfectly good printer that wouldn't print one color too! The "new" second printer doesn't do anything better than the "old" first printer except get all the colors to squirt out right!

How often are you using your pro-100? Are there Canon guidelines about how often these printers must be turned on, warmed up, and test printed?

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

scubadoc wrote:

Good morning all. I recently inherited a Canon Pix... (show quote)

Go to Precision inks website and click on one of their refilling videos.the guy that does them has several utube videos on cleaning clogged heads. His first name is Jose. I can't remember his Last name. He is very good at what he does and has helped me with my old printer. Best of luck.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

Drbobcameraguy wrote:

Go to Precision inks website and click on one of their refilling videos.the guy that does them has several utube videos on cleaning clogged heads. His first name is Jose. I can't remember his Last name. He is very good at what he does and has helped me with my old printer. Best of luck.

Thx.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

scubadoc wrote:

How often are you using your pro-100? Are there Canon guidelines about how often these printers must be turned on, warmed up, and test printed?

Because I travel in an RV, I can be gone for months. My printer does not seem to care. I don't do anything but turn it on to print when I'm home.

The Pro-100 used dye inks. The Pro-10 uses pigment inks. One theoretical advantage to dye inks is that they don't clog the heads. That might be why the 100 works so well for me.