Lifetime of a printhead

what's to be expected?

[grandpa]

My HP 1200n is at about 2 years old. This week, after daily usage for all that time, it's begun to show it's age.

It started with what seemed to be paper jams, but there wasn't a jam and pressing on the front panel button cleared up the error. This happened more than once. Then the print quality started to degrade, and the bottom part of the page seemed to be affected the worst, often printing only the top half of a line of print.

Tonight I embarked on a cleaning. Since the black ink seemed to be the worst problem I pulled out that printhead. All I can say is GROSS. There was a buildup of ink on the bottom of the printhead that I was able to carefully scrape/wipe off, using tissue paper over my fingertip - no chemicals. I cleaned the contacts on the side of the printhead, and their corresponding contacts in the printer. All of this cleaning went well and the diagnostics indicate a healthy and happy printhead.

What is the expected lifetime of a printhead? I'm sure there isn't a real answer because of usage factors. On an average day I'll run a couple of hundred sheets of plain paper, and then I'll print on label forms as well.

Do you perform regular maintenance/cleaning on your printheads? How often?

The last HP I had (different model) finally reached the same point as this one, and from there it went quickly downhill. So I'm concerned about this one. I really like it (the best printer we've ever used here) and don't relish the idea of replacing it right now. One difference between those two printers is that I was refilling cartridges on the first printer, and I won't do that with this one. I believe the ink quality for my refills was a significant factor in it's demise.

I have other questions about this printer, and I'm trying to find a local service tech.. so far no luck with that! Where do these people hide?

[rocknbil]

Ack your last sentence nixed my (predictable) advice. We have a DeskJet 1200C over 5 years old here and still saws along like a grisly old lumberjack. I also have a 540 (!) over 8 years old that still cranks out the paper. I had a friend who was an HP service tech (was, as in before his divorce, like the song says, "she gets the house and the friends") and had the benefit of watching him rework our 1200C.

Basically disassemble and clean, thoroughly. All the parts you can safely remove and realign. Especially the rollers, bearings, parts that the paper passes over, the pinch bars, etc. Don't open the gear cases unless you are good at solving Rubik's Cube. Only dry-clean the thingy with the brush strip on it. Clean all the rubber rollers with alcohol and soft cloth or paper towel. This will get rid of most of the jamming. The contacts and print head can safely be cleaned with a quick swipe of TP and alcohol, but don't apply too may wipes as it will start to break down the laquer. Allow the alcohol to fully dry before a second wipe.

You should have software to do a realignment of the inks after reassembly, if you don't I believe you can download it form the HP site. Basically is sends a test page with crosses and dots, you download alterations to the printer ROM until the dots and crosses line up as perfectly as possible.

I only do this when I have to. :-) Like once every other year. I know, I don't deserve the good service it's given me, but if it ever fails it's an opportunity to buy a new one. :-)

[grandpa]

Thanks rocknbil. I spent some time with it yesterday afternoon and discovered black ink in places where I wouldn't expect ink. I think that when this thing cleans the heads, it dumps a little ink into a reservoir. That reservoir has become full, resulting in spreading ink to parts not normally inked. Anyway I did some cleaning, without any real disassembly, and the printer acts better.

I also managed to locate an HP tech in town. I'm going to borrow the family's house printer for a couple of days and let the tech handle the really dirty stuff deep inside. Even at his list prices I'll come out ahead on the cost.

Aside - I walked into a PC shop yesterday and asked if they serviced printers. The kid looked at me, said no, and told me (with a straight face) that it would be cheaper to buy a new printer. My response, "Yeah, if I brought it to you.." Kids!
(Replacement cost - $345.00 Service cost - $85.00)