Need a Carriage Drive Belt for obsolete DesignJet 1050c

[JoeRave]

Yeah, the photo was turned 90 degrees for some reason. 
If I’m facing the back of the machine, this is on my right-hand side. 

[JoeRave]

If I’m facing the back of the printer, it’s on my right-hand side, inside the back cover. Here’s what I hope is a better photo. Don’t mind the finger dents in the foam next to it. 
Yes, a manual was included in the package when I ordered the new belt. And I also found this good instructional video. https://youtu.be/grGz2QraRNg
The only problem (right now) is that I can’t find the test points on the circuit board to check my ohms before I start the thing back up.

[JoeRave]

And now I get the dreaded "Check printhead CLEANER path" error message. Online forums are full of advice to calibrate stuff using the settings in the printer window, but that's impossible when the printer itself demands that you turn it off before doing anything else.

What do I do now?

[styloid]

Probsbly the belt.

Start there.

Lps computer have them in tbe states.

We have them in the UK and Europe.

Bristol Inkjet 

Kind regards 

Peter

[JoeRave]

I just replaced the belt a few weeks ago, it’s brand new. 
What else might it be that hasn’t been mentioned on the internet yet? One reply marked as a “solution” actually mentioned taking a circle saw to the printhead cleaners to behead them to give overhead space for the sled. Surely I won’t have to take it that far. 

[styloid]

In the past I've also has this error due to tube  system being not adjusted correctly.

There is blue clip holding the tubes in place

If the tubes are not positioned correctly in this clip it will cause this error.

The black rubber outer is gripped by the clip.

If its  pulled out a bit it can cause problens

Good luck

P

[D Hook]

I take it you haven't been able to make a print yet.  Does the carriage move okay after the belt change?

Those printhead cleaners need to be replaced and probably the printheads also.  The printheads usually come with new cleaners so you can replace them as a set.  But don't replace them one at a time.  Get all four and replace them all at once.  Other wise the new printheads may dry up before you get all four replaced.  The printhead cleaner sled must be able to move correctly so the new printheads can be capped and prevent them from being damaged or drying out.

If it was my printer, I'd unplug it and move the carriage out of it's home spot to expose the cleaners.  Then gently move the cleaner sled out toward the front and be sure it moves easily and is unobstructed in both forward and backward movement.  You may have something preventing it from finding it's home location, resulting in the error code.  While you're at it, be sure the printhead carriage moves easily all the way left and right to be sure you got the belt installed correctly.

It possible that when you reassembled the printer after the belt change, you might have something out of whack preventing the cleaner sled from moving fully to it's home position when the carriage is in it's home position.  With the power off, you should be able to park the carriage in it's home position, then move the cleaner sled through it's range of motion and be sure it's capping the printheads as it should.

Those cleaners could damage the printheads that are in there right now by scrapping against the dried ink on the sponges.  There's no need for any cutting as the only thing that can solve the problem is replacing the components.  Ebay is a good source for the printheads/cleaners.  If you can't afford to buy all four at once, just buy them one at a time over a period of time and once you have all four, then replace them.  You can use expired printheads but I would try to use some that are only about 7-8 years out of date.

And as Styloid suggested, check the clip on the carriage.  I've never had this happen (yet) but it's a good idea to check all your connections you had to make when you replaced the belt.

EDIT:  Be careful when buying the ink supplies on Ebay.  Be sure you're buying printheads AND cleaners in one box.  Some sellers get a bit sloppy in their postings and their text reads printheads but the picture shows ink cartridges.  It's best if you can buy them together in one box instead of just the printhead or just the cleaner.  You'll pay less and you'll know the two are of the same date.

Here's one on Ebay that's actually a pretty good deal:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/185403355042?hash=item2b2ae6afa2:g:gSIAAOSw85RiYxS2

(Not my auction, BTW.)  These come with the printhead/cleaner AND an ink cartridge.  Don't find too many of these very often and you'll pay more the $50 for just the black printhead/cleaner most of the time.  Then you'll just need the yellow and you're set.  If I had a need for them, I'd buy them myself!

Also, don't bother with the remanufactured printheads.  These never come with cleaners and they seldom last very long.  Try to buy the blue box printhead/cleaners because they'll be a bit newer but I've used printheads that were over 10 years old with no problems, as long as the packaging is sealed.  You'll find the black printhead/cleaner to be the most expensive for some reason.  Other colors are pretty cheap compared to the black.

Let us know what happens.

[JoeRave]

Thank you. It takes me a while to get back to y'all because I'm a little overwhelmed by the size that this operation has grown into.

No, I haven't made any prints yet...

I just replaced all of the printheads and cleaners within a few weeks of each other. All HP originals. I won't use third-party ink, heads or cleaners.

Three of the colours came with the purchase, and they were old but I'm glad you confirm that they're probably still good. The fourth colour was new from an online vendor (when I finally could afford it).

Yes, the carriage moves very smoothly after I changed the belt. I feel like the cleaner sled moves kinda tough, but I don't feel like there are any obstacles in its way when the carriage isn't there. However... when the carriage is over the sled, the sled won't move all the way in, it gets caught under the carriage. Is this normal?

Did Styloid mean the clip on the carriage or the clip on the ink tubes in the back of the machine? The clip on the carriage seems just fine, but I don't look forward to going back into the back of the machine.

I do have a screw and two washers left over after I put the machine together, though.

EDIT TO ADD: The machine sometimes starts up like normal, though. The path seems to need checking most of the time, but not always. I'm sure this is a clue somehow.

[D Hook]

Yes, that's normal.  You can't move the cleaner sled in with the carriage parked at it's home spot.  You have to power down the printer, move the carriage away about a foot and then slide in the sled.  There should be some resistance because it's moving the motor when you do that.

I would suggest you power down the printer, move the carriage out about a foot and pull the cleaner sled out, in that order.  Then restart the printer and let the carriage and sled do what they do.  If everything is working normally, the carriage and the sled with park themselves in their proper places.  The reason you're having a problem with the sled moving all the way in when the carriage is in place is because the capping parts of the sled mechanism is in the way of the printheads.  When the sled is moved into place, it caps the printheads to avoid them drying out.

Don't be overwhelmed.  It sounds like you're just having mechanical problems, which are easier to solve (and cheaper) than electrical or circuit board issues.  Sounds like you have the ink/printhead supplies you need so testing will be much easier.  These legacy printers are a lot less sensitive to ink/printhead supply issues than the newer ones.