Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!xanth!rlb
From: rlb@cs.odu.edu (Robert Lee Bailey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Epson printer head replacement/refurbishment
Message-ID: <7981@xanth.cs.odu.edu>
Date: 4 Mar 89 19:26:02 GMT
References: <wY35g6y00WQ1IiLcxj@andrew.cmu.edu>
Reply-To: rlb@cs.odu.edu (Robert Lee Bailey)
Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk Va.
Lines: 35

In article <wY35g6y00WQ1IiLcxj@andrew.cmu.edu> jc58+@andrew.cmu.edu (Johnny J. Chin) writes:
>
>Replacing Epson printheads are a pretty easy task (except LQ-1500,2500,2550).
>
>The reason you only got one good day out of soaking it in alcohol is because
>the tips of the firing pins are worn and no longer strike the paper in a
>squared fashion.  Printheads do cost money.  If you call Epson direct, they
>will most likely tell you to call an Epson Service Center or charge you list
>price for the part.
>

A technician friend once told me about a method of restoring bad pins in a
print head.  NOTE: I DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL WORK!  IT IS POSSIBLE
TO DAMAGE THE PRINTHEAD BEYOND REPAIR.  I TAKE NO RESPONISIBILITY FOR
POTENTIAL DAMAGES.  IT SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT ONLY!

With this disclaimer out of the way, the problem, as mentioned in the above
posting, is that the end of the pins become "blunted" which cause them to
stick in the head.  The solution is to remove the blunted part at the end
of the pin.  The method described to me is a follows:

	1. Remove the print head
	2. dissasemble the print head & remove the pins
	3. using a knife sharpening stone, GENTLY stroke the end of the
	   pin against the stone to remove the blunted portion.  VERY
	   GENTLY is the key! The pins are delicate and will break. Also,
	   do not remove too much or the pin will be too short to contact the
	   paper.
	4. Thoroughly clean each pin, and the head assembly using TV tuner
	   cleaner or contact cleaner.  This has some lubrication in it also.
	5. reassemble the head & install it.

I have never tried this myself, so I do not know if it works.  Again, this
should be done as a LAST RESORT.  Be prepared to buy a new printhead if it
does not work or if you break a pin or remove too much material from pins.