canon pixma IP4300 help please

[K10D]

Hi all. Had the above printer for around a year now and for what I print it's been ok. Think the black nozzle (BK) is blocked as I'm getting a similar patten to that broken pattern as shown in the nozzle check diagram. Which is a little odd seeing as I clean it regularly?
Done the clean and deep clean, changed ink but still the same! Any ideas folks?
And just in case it's skip time for the IP4300 any recommendations out there for a cheap reasonable colour printer who's ink purchase don't necessitate a mortgage.
Cheers.
Scott.

[Roy5051]

Have you tried taking out the printing head? This is the small box that the cartridges sit in - on my iP5200, which I think is similar, you take out all the cartridges, and lift out the small oblong container underneath. Make sure this is clean. It is probably replaceable by Canon, but probably so expensive as to make it cheaper to buy a new printer!

[Pip]

New print head is a self-fit job just as it is when you buy the iP4300 new. New head costs £40-50 online. As Roy says, new printers can be had for not much more, and there's no gaurantee a new head will fix your problem.

I would definitely stick with Canon though if you do buy a new one. Epson ones block too easily if all the colours aren't used every day (personal experience), whereas HP ones don't have the same output quality as Canon in my opinion (friend has one). And definitely not a Lexmark unless all you want it for is text (again, personal experience).

[Nig]

I have an IP 4500 which was doing the same. None of the inbuilt cleaning methods cured it,so I took out the box which has the print head underneath. Then undid 2 small screws which allows the head to be pulled to one side.
I poured some dilute Isopropyl onto it and let it soak through. Doing that and blowing through the nozzles a few times did the trick. Can be a bit messy.

It worked for me anyway. Prints fine now.

Nig.

[K10D]

Hi guys. Thanks for the help. So far I've taken out the head removed the 2 screws now I'm hunting down some Isopropyl as local chemist don't have it? Can I use Vodka! I seem to have a quite a store of that?
I did a deep clean before removing head and it made no difference the BK still showed broken lines. A friend lent me his spare a Canon MP140 just so I had a printer neat machine but I don't think it like my paper as I get 'Pools' of odd colour which look like finger prints? Tried a few papers with same result but onlt when subject is dark? Tricky this electronic printing! And expensive!
Cheers.
S.

[beejaybee]

now I'm hunting down some Isopropyl as local chemist don't have it? Can I use Vodka! I seem to have a quite a store of that?

You can get isopropyl alcohol from reputable UK suppliers through eBay.

Ordinary vodka is mostly water and NBG for your requirement, but the 170 proof Polish stuff would probably work OK.

[Nig]

I've had a look at the stuff I actually used and it was JML Cleaning solution which contains Isopropanol. I have a feeling that I originally bought this stuff for cleaning the heads on a tape deck or possibly CD's and the CD lens or whatever it's called.

Nig.

[K10D]

"Ordinary vodka is mostly water and NBG for your requirement, but the 170 proof Polish stuff would probably work OK."

On me or the printer?
Hi Marvin. Found some Isopop at local chemist (ordered in for Saturday) so I'll wash out the IP4300 head then. This loner MP140 is real fussy on paper. Tried some canon glossy photo plus 2 and all's ok though colour is out a bit. Funny that all my other paper won't work with it? Still, it prints quite well and the copy function works a treat. £29.00! Think I might buy one just for the copy and scanning options! Anyone know where I can find out what the colour profiles indicate, can't find any thing on canons site?
CNB8RCAO-CNB8RCBO-CNB8RCCO-CNB8RDBO-CNB8RDCO-CNB8REBO-CNB8RECO-CNB8REDO-CNBJPRN3
Thanks all.
S.