PIXMA TR4720 - How do you remove the print head for manual cleaning?

[RichC]

I have tried cleaning twice and a deep cleaning twice and it doesn't help. I am still not getting any cyan and the black is not fully printing the pattern. I have also tried replacing the color cartridge and that doesn't help. How do I remove the print heads on this printer for manual cleaning?

[normadel · Accepted solution]

The print heads are incorporated in the ink cartridges. When you replace a cartridge, you are replacing the print head.

You can try cleaning head nozzles with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. It can make a real mess of it, and could result in cross-mixing of the colors. But what the heck, it could be a way of saving a cartridge if all other head-cleaning procedures are not working.

Clean the electrical contacts on the cartridges and in the printer with alcohol also.

[RichC]

Thanks Normadel - will give it a try.

[RichC]

When I tried cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, it didn't help. I then replaced both cartridges with Canon official cartridges and now it works. Did Canon update the firmware so that it no longer works with after-market (refilled) cartridges? It had previously worked for many years with after-market cartridges.

[normadel]

No idea. But quality of the aftermarkets could have something to do with it. And clogged heads just plain cannot always be cleared. I had a Pixma iX6820 that this was the case with. After finding (not easy to do) and buying a replacement head, the replacement did not pass through ink AT ALL. So I took heroic measures to clean the original head unit but nothing would completely get the cyan ink flowing. Ended up trashing the printer.

[RichC]

Thanks Normadel