Epson 3880 black ink switch assembly issue

[calico]

When I printed on my Epson 3880 this weekend, there were big black blobs of ink outside the image area.

After researching it on the internet, I saw this is a common problem with the 3880, caused by a defect in the PK/MK switch assembly which is inside the print head assembly. Repair is ~ $500 (and the printer is too heavy for me to deal with shipping somewhere, too).

I see that if I use the matte black ink, I don't get blotches. So I'm thinking of keeping the printer and using only for printing on matte paper, especially considering I recently bought a whole set of ink cartridges.

But......when I wanted to do a nozzle check today, the printer wouldn't let me do it until I replaced one of the cartridges that was empty (a magenta one). Am I going to run into that problem with the photo black cartridge? If printer won't let me do nozzle check if a magenta is out of ink, would it do the same if photo black is empty? Or maybe if the photo black is not in position to be used at time of nozzle check, printer would not stop me from doing nozzle check?

If I put a new photo black cartridge in after the current one is empty, I think it will just drain again because of the switch assembly problem. It's very low on ink now.

I'm asking here rather than just waiting to see what happens, because I see there's a $200 rebate right now for the replacement printer (P900), and I'm wondering if I should jump on this deal (if the 3880 won't even be usable for matte printing).

Also, I'm kind of wondering if Epson is about to come out with new model. Seems companies do rebates on older models when they're about to release a new one. Have you heard any rumors?

I've seen some discouraging complaints about the P900.

Thanks.

 

[jtk]

Contact an Epson Authorized (authorized) repair business or switch to Canon (which will probably ship free).

 

[calico]

Contact an Epson Authorized (authorized) repair business or switch to Canon (which will probably ship free).

There is no one in my city who could repair the printer. I can't deal with shipping such a big, heavy thing. Paying $500 to repair an 8-year-old printer is questionable anyway.

I do not want Canon. For one thing, I have to stay in OS 10.6.8 because of my photography and scanner software, and the appropriate Canon printer needs later OS. My OS is compatible with the Epson P900 driver.

 

[calico]

But......when I wanted to do a nozzle check today, the printer wouldn't let me do it until I replaced one of the cartridges that was empty (a magenta one). Am I going to run into that problem with the photo black cartridge? If printer won't let me do nozzle check if a magenta is out of ink, would it do the same if photo black is empty? Or maybe if the photo black is not in position to be used at time of nozzle check, printer would not stop me from doing nozzle check?

Just did some more research on internet. Sounds like if the matte black cartridge is in position to be used, the photo black cartridge would not be involved in the nozzle check. So I shouldn't have a problem doing nozzle checks if photo black is empty. So the printer should be functional for matte printing.

Maybe I won't rush into getting a new printer and see if a new one comes out.

 

[Canuck]

My 3880 ink switch also jammed but I am perfectly happy since it was stuck on matte. I like the way it prints advanced B&W with the warm setting. May do something someday about it but I am happy at the moment. Had enough hassles with a 3800 with the same problem. Was gungho in trying to fix it but it had a few other problems, so it was recycled.

 

[calico]

My 3880 ink switch also jammed but I am perfectly happy since it was stuck on matte. I like the way it prints advanced B&W with the warm setting. May do something someday about it but I am happy at the moment. Had enough hassles with a 3800 with the same problem. Was gungho in trying to fix it but it had a few other problems, so it was recycled.

Interesting.

I won't be able to live forever without being able to print on non-matte paper (as it's the photo black that is bad on my printer), but I happen to be into matte at the moment. Bought a bunch of different papers, including some Japanese papers, which I want to try.

I'll have to get a new printer at some point, but I'm glad I don't have to rush to get one right now.

At least the new Epsons don't switch the black inks, so we won't have the same problem again. But maybe some new problem??? : )

 

[FotoD]

I have an all-matte 3880. The computer inside the printer counts number of prints, it doesn't know how much ink is left. So after a number of cleaning cycles it may shut down and tell you to buy PK ink.

A chinese resetter takes care of that problem for a few bucks. But don't let the level go below 30% (or something like that) before you reset.

 

[calico]

I have an all-matte 3880. The computer inside the printer counts number of prints, it doesn't know how much ink is left. So after a number of cleaning cycles it may shut down and tell you to buy PK ink.

A chinese resetter takes care of that problem for a few bucks. But don't let the level go below 30% (or something like that) before you reset.

Hi FotoD. Thanks for this info.

What do you mean by a "resetter"? What is it and where does it go in the printer? Or is it software?

Sounds like you've done this with your printer.

My PK cartridge may already be below 30%. It feels quite light, and the amount shown on the screen on printer for that cartridge is very low and I'm getting "low" message.

Interesting that the printer goes by number of pages printed, not amount of ink in cartridge. If that is the case, why do different cartridges run out at different times? Does the printer know how much of each color was used for each print?

 

[FotoD]

What do you mean by a "resetter"?

It's an electronic device that you can find on eBay. You hold it against the circuit on each cartridge, then the printer will believe the cartridge is full again. You can fill up the PK cartridge with distilled water and a little bit of isopropyl alcohol so it won't run dry. Use a syringe without needle.

My PK cartridge may already be below 30%.

At least the resetters I've seen don't work below ca 25-30%, but above that you can reset again and again.

Does the printer know how much of each color was used for each print?

Exactly.

 

[calico]

It's an electronic device that you can find on eBay. You hold it against the circuit on each cartridge, then the printer will believe the cartridge is full again. You can fill up the PK cartridge with distilled water and a little bit of isopropyl alcohol so it won't run dry. Use a syringe without needle.


At least the resetters I've seen don't work below ca 25-30%, but above that you can reset again and again.


Exactly.

Thanks very much for all of this info. If I can fill the cartridge with water and alcohol, maybe doing that will make the resetter work.

Interesting that the 3800 and 3880 printers have this black ink switcher problem -- and I was totally oblivious to it until it happened to me!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Just did some more research on internet. Sounds like if the matte black cartridge is in position to be used, the photo black cartridge would not be involved in the nozzle check. So I shouldn't have a problem doing nozzle checks if photo black is empty. So the printer should be functional for matte printing.

Maybe I won't rush into getting a new printer and see if a new one comes out.

since disposing of my Epson3880, I'm using the WhiteWall service instead and don't miss the printer and all its problems anymore.

 

[calico]

since disposing of my Epson3880, I'm using the WhiteWall service instead and don't miss the printer and all its problems anymore.

Glad that works for you. But I need to be able to make slight adjustments after I see a print. I also like to experiment with different papers which would be impractical with a lab.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Glad that works for you. But I need to be able to make slight adjustments after I see a print. I also like to experiment with different papers which would be impractical with a lab.

This certainly is value and having a own friends right home but I can do without the headaches that come along with it.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

If you use it mostly for black and white try using QTR rip instead of advanced BW.

 

[jtk]

I use NIK with all of my files, B&W or color. It's non-destructive, easy, and eliminates concern with paper type.

 

[jtk]

I did use both QTR and Advanced B&W until I replaced Epson with Canon.