I have a 12 year old DesignJet T1120 printer, bought new in 2010. The printer has locked me out

[ian-cad]

I have a 12 year old DesignJet T1120 printer, bought new in 2010. The printer has been unused for the last 8 years. I switched it on 2 days ago, it cycled through the start sequence eventually telling me that the print heads needed replacing or cleaning. As it happens they had been replaced shortly before the machine went into hibernation (we moved home...no room for it) Following the attempted restart it has now locked me out with a reference to call HP.....so I did, the virtual assistant...waste of time. Can anyone help me get back into the system. ??? Thanks Ian-cad

6 Feb 2023.

[Repairatrooper]

Is there an exact error code or message?

[ian-cad]

Hi There

The initial message(s) were telling me that that the printhead(s) need replacing, later these messages stopped to be replaced by a '21:13' code which I understand relates to the service station....but exactly what?

Any ideas.

Thanks

ian-cad

UK

[pbrooks259]

Hi, you could not so simply replace the service station SS CK837-67022--ideally you need a manual; search for one--I came across one in this Brazilian site; you would probably find the same one--enter at your own risk.:   https://www.printertec.com.br    I refuse to buy manuals but sometimes you have to.

The SS:   I'm guessing about a $300-400 plus or minus item.   I usually check on ebay.   There's one on there for about $305 or so.

Or if you are very handy:    pull the right end cover off and try to very carefully clean off the gunked up ink off any part of the service station that looks like its movement could be impeded by dried, sticky, or gunked up ink--sometimes they just kinda sorta get "stuck" in place due to the sticky tacky ink.   I even lubricate with silicone grease as much of the sliding surfaces as I can keeping it safely away from the printhead nozzles.

You can drive the movement of the SS forwards and backwards from the back of the SS with I think a T10? driver; I forget turning which direction moves it which way.    I would move it back and forth after cleaning it and/or lubricating it so that perhaps it gets to sliding/moving back and forth a bit more easily.    If it is stuck while capping the printheads, you can back the capping station? off by moving it towards the rear of the printer by using the T10? driver; this will allow you to move the carriage to the left out of the way.

Sometimes you find that the capping station? in the top part of the SS has become detached and is striking something.  I have a couple times just snapped them back into place/position.   You may have to remove it and take the top off it to access where they clip on.

As a last ditch effort to save it, tear into it and replace the motor (you can find it on ebay)--might be a bad motor ($50-$100 plus or minus) down in the belly of it.

Also, when I tear into the SS, I usually clean up or replace the absorbents which soak up the waste ink and clean all the waste ink out; they can get really nasty.   You can I think find replacement absorbents on ebay and maybe elsewhere.

Ultimately, you may want to simply replace the SS, again at least about $300.

Beware:   Once I got 21:13, and the culprit was the main pca, arggghhh!    A guy who will remain nameless sold me a bad main pca which caused 21:13--I had to fight him for credit.   So I had to buy the entire electronics control module (main pca plus power supply), but I found one that was rather reasonably priced.

....I would bet the carriage belt is probably crap after 12 years.

Good luck!

[ian-cad]

Hi there pbrooks259

Many thanks for your extensive reply and suggestions. My research so far has got me a pdf of the service manual which is now downloaded onto my pc, a hefty but thorough document....very useful.

Given that I am reluctant to spend cash when I can do a job myself...carefully, I have decided to remove the end cover and check out the SS before opting to replace anything, your obserevations about being gunked up and possibly stuck may have some merit on my machine.

Regarding the PCA, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it isn't the problem.

I hope to post my findings upon completion, many thanks for your contribution.

Regards

Ian

[pbrooks259]

Ian, I hope you get it working!   It is such a good feeling getting a machine like that working again!   That's why I do this--I like to fix things, get them back on the road.   Ha

A tidbit:   As best as I know and have heard and I think I actually did this once, the SS motor and the starwheel lifter motor are essentially the same.  So if you have a starwheel lifter motor from which a gear shaft broke off (I have seen that a few to several times.), you could use that motor in the SS, if a replacement motor were needed.   You may or may not have to change out motor accessories--gears, etc.  I forget.

Correction:    The error on my old T770 was 21.1:03 (failure of primer motor, I think) not 21:13, but I ASSUME 21:13 could be caused by a bad main pca but am not sure.   And the main pca and PSU tandem is typically called an EMOD, I think, not ECM, but they seem about the same to me.

[D Hook]

Once you get it working again you'll find this printer has a neat feature.  If you leave it plugged in, it will do a self-maintenance test ( think it's twice every 24 hours) to keep the printheads clean and fresh.  I've had printers like this sit unused for a year or more, plugged in, and when asked to print, they took right off and printed fine.  Not too many of HP printers have this feature.  PBrooks gave excellent advice for inspecting, cleaning and repair.  Belt change would be a good idea also but check the manual very closely for instructions.  And don't use WD 40 as a lube.  It turns to a gummy mess.  As PBrooks mentions, a good silicone lube like Tri-Flow works very well.

And yes, after that long sitting unused, plan to replace the printheads and the ink cartridges.  Doubtful the ink in the lines dried up.  Let us know if it appears so.  There's a very easy trick to get the ink flowing again.

[ian-cad]

Many thanks for your observations/suggestions.
I am collating everyone's comments and will identify their relevance as I start the repair, at the moment a selective strip down is needed so that I can begin an assessment then all these suggestions will make more sense.
Watch this space.
Many thanks