how to clean print heads on a Canon i960?

[mrbigstuff]

I have complained here about my lousy print colors on this machine and someone suggested cleaning the heads with distilled water. Any suggestion on how to do so? dip-n-dunk or compresed air, compressed water? I've never had to do this on this machine.

[space-time]

I think I am the one who suggested to remove the print head and clean it separately, but please note that I have not done so myself and cannot offer any practical advice.

I have read that other people used Windex (ammonia) to clean clogged heads on some Epson printers, basically just put the print head on a paper towel soaked in ammonia. Google and you might find something. I think a similar process might work with the i960, i.e. remove the head, clean it with something (ammonia, water, I don't know what is best), but I would recommend rinsing in distilled water to make sure there are no minerals left in those fine nozzles. I know the water has lots of minerals where I live and I guess it would clog the head for sure.

anyway, I don't have time to fool around with my printer now, but if you go ahead and clean your printer, let me know how it worked out.

[space-time]

Hi again, check this out, and good luck!

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.peri...529?lnk=st&q=clean+print+head+i960&rnum=1#1b9321e2aff13529

[RAMd®d]

You could try doing the cleaning cycle, then letting it sit for 24hrs. Then do another cleaning cycle and let sit for 24hrs. Repeat for 4-5 days.

It idea is that the solvents in the ink are slowly pushed into the print head, softening the dried ink, until it can be flushed out.

Doing several cleaning cycles in a row just puddle up the ink, without ever giving the dried stuff time to soften and get cleared out.

[space-time]

another idea: are you sure the printer needs cleaning? i.e. did you tun the test and did you find clogged nozzles? I think if all nozzles are clear but your colors are still off, the problems is somewhere else, a corrupted printer profile or something like that. Have you tried printing from a different computer? are you sure you did not mix some ink cartridges (like I did)?

Good luck!