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Computer Help
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Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate
a spill.
We must remove the plastic top from all tri-color (red) cartridges. You may use
either of two methods:
Gently clamp the cartridge bottom in a vise or similar device. Grab the top with
a large wrench or set of pliers and crack off the top. This will likely break
some plastic, but this is generally cosmetic damage.
Lay the cartridge on a solid surface and put the edge of a sharp knife at the
intersection of the different colors of plastic. Hit it sharply with a hammer.
Then pull off the top. You will see three different fill holes.
For the black and uni-color cartridges, take a syringe bottle and fill it 1/3 to
1/2 full of ink - about 10 to 15 ml.
For the tri-color cartridges, you will only need about 5 ml of ink -- about 1/6
of a syringe bottle
The black and uni-color cartridges require a single fill hole. You can
create this fill hole by drilling or melting a 1/16 inch (2 mm) hole on the
lower level of the top surface, 1/3rd of the way from either side of the
cartridge.
For the tri-color cartridge, test which hole takes which color by inserting a
toothpick or an empty syringe needle into each hole, removing the probe and
looking at the color. Draw a diagram so you'll remember which hole takes which
color. Tape over two of the holes so the ink won't accidentally contaminate the
other two colors if a chamber overflow while filling it.
Insert the needle fully into the appropriate hole. Inject the ink very
S-L-O-W-L-Y and watch until the sponge is saturated. You must insert the needle
deep into the cartridge to avoid trapping air under the ink. The end of the
needle should be near the bottom of the cartridge.
On the color cartridges, if you notice a drop of ink hanging under the cartridge
as you fill, blot the drop away immediately. Otherwise, it may migrate up into a
different, less filled chamber and cause cross-color contamination.
Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for the other two colors with different syringes
Remove the tape on the holes of the tri-color cartridge.
Put the tri-color's red top back on and tape down in place.
Set above a paper towel for an hour as a drip precaution. Expect a few drips. It
is important at this step to keep the cartridge from touching the towel, since
the towel will draw out the ink.
Ink cartridges, laser toner and free shipping on orders over $45. Click Here.
Each cartridge has its little tricks.
First when refilling always allow the cartridge to sit 24 hours to allow the
sponges in the cartridge to fully saturate the ink you have injected into the
cartridge.
Most problems a rise from people rushing the process.
In Lexmark cartridges it is important to not allow air into the cartridge
(inject ink very slowly). If this occurs you can cause an air blockage at the
jets. To fix this you wrap the cartridge tightly in plastic and whip the
cartridge downwards holding the cartridge upright. This forces the air to the
top of the cartridge and rids you of the blockage.
Another problem that occurs is ink starvation. If you do not use a
cartridge flush first to remove the dried ink pockets in the sponge the ink will
not saturate fast enough through the cartridge therefore the ink is delivered to
the paper then runs out until the ink makes it back down to the jets again. I
recommend before adding ink into any sponge of a cartridge add 1/2 ml of
cartridge flush wait 10 to 15 minutes then add your ink. 1/2 ml of flush to each
color cell. The flush will flow downwards through the sponge and eliminating any
blockage and it will condition not only the sponge to saturate but will also
enhance the print head.
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Computer Help
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