check printhead CLEANER path

[meat1820]

I,ve pulled the service station and cleaned it up and put it back in. Done service station calibration, color to color calibration, printed a systems configuration and a service configuration print.

NOW,,, I keep getting a (Switch power off Check CLEANER path) error at the end of initialization. Forcing you to power down and I can't get rid of this or get passed it. I cleaned and lubed the rails (synthetic oil). nothing is blocking a path!!!

I am ready to wrap a chain around this thing and mount it to the bow of the boat!!!

Any help would be appreciated!!

Rich

[davidzuts]

Make sure all the cleaners are level. If that is ok and you can move by hand with the power off without issue I would think the motor that drives the service station has an issue and you probably need to replace the service station.

[meat1820]

I originaly pulled the service station to get rid of a drop detector error code that kept popping up during prints and at the end of prints. there was nothing wrong with the motor and it moves the cleaners back and forth fine. I don't see how disconnecting it and putting it back in can make it go bad, that don't make sense.

I think what makes more sense is for HP to figure out why trying to fix one problem ALWAYS creates a problem somewhere else. There is absolutely nothing in the service manual about the (switch power off check printhead CLEANER path) but it'll come up on the screen!!

I went from a continuable error code to dead in the water just for trying to catchup on the printer maintenance.

THIS IS **bleep** AND VERY FRUSTRATING!!

[davidzuts]

First you are dealing with a very old printer. Second on older equipment when you remove a part and perform "maintennace" it is always possible something may have come out of alignment or was not seated correctly upon installation. Did you recheck the connector for the motor which you removed when you took it out. Maybe when you put the connection back it was not fully seated and has come loose.  I assume you can move the service station tray back and forth with the power off with no problems. Since it worked initially when you put it back together I assume that something has failed and you will need to remove it again. From what I remember  and I could be wrong there are a couple of screws in the front and a couple of screws in the middle on each side that when you remove seperates the tray that slides back and forth from the base and allows for good cleaning.  Keep in mind hp stopped supporting this plotter over 5 years ago and if just the plain 1050c and not the plus model it was over 8 years ago that support stopped. The plus came out in 2001 and the non plus came out in 1999. There is info in the manual but it is limited. See the attached.

[meat1820]

thanks for your replies David, and I know you have a lot of experience with these. you are correct, there ain't much info at all, very limited on that shutdown error. I took the service station out for the 3rd time to make sure everythings hooked up right. It is all pretty straight forward and easy to do... the printer will go through the whole initialization movements including moving the service station and cleaners. When the carriage moves from the left to the right in it's station nesting position, instead of the normal Ready screen , the switch power off cleaner path error comes up..I'm just gonna have to find another service station... wasn't ready for a setback like this over something simple that's all. Time to hit ebay..lol

Rich

[davidzuts]

A couple of things to check. First make sure the encoder strip behind the service station is clean. When you removed the station it is possible during the removal that some ink got on the strip and is causing a misread of the location of the carriage assembly. The other thing you may want to do is remove all the printheads and start up the plotter and see if comes to where it asks for the printheads or comes to the error. It is possible the printheads are hitting the cleaners which would tell me that maybe the service station is not sitting right or if you disassembled the station that maybe you did not get it back together correctly.

[meat1820]

ok David,, this is what I found today .. after getting home from work. I started with cleaning off the encoder strip with a damp microfiber lens cleaning cloth, softest thing I have anyway. It came out a little dirty as I expected for the little use from last time it was cleaned. I override the window and right side door switches, started printer and let it initialize. When carriage comes to right ready position, the carriage doesn't quite make it all the way over the service station . It stops like a 1/4 of an inch shy then the serv station tries to cap and the cleaner frames run into the heads causing the error..!! Sooo, that tells me, the service station is probably good, it's trying to do what it's suppose to do but can't because the printheads are in the way. Am I correct here? is this an encoder strip problem, telling the carriage where to stop?

Rich

[davidzuts]

Could be, but did you try to remove the heads before you start the printer and see if it gets to where the station moves without the heads. It may not move but worth a try to confirm the issue.  If you shine a flashlight on the right side where the encoder ends and then a little to the left you should be able to see if there are any defects in the strip (missing lines or heavy ink). The other think you can do is remove the right cover and pull out the cleaners and move the carriage all the way to the right. Now move the cleaners in and see if they go in ok or hit the heads. If they hit the heads, then I would think you did not install the service station correctly.

[meat1820]

yes, I did remove the printheads and let the printer initiate. service station moves fine and at the end of initialization the printer called for printheads INSERT,,,, BUT, the carriage still didn't stop right over the service station. it was to the left 1/4 inch.

when the carriage comes to home position, is that plunger on the service station supposed to be up for the carriage to go against it? That is not happening if it is supposed to.

I don't see anything on the encoder strip, I cleaned it 2-3 times. These lines must be real fine or I'm blind and need to use an eyeloupe

[davidzuts]

With the power off move the cleaner tray out as far at it will go. Now move the carriage all the way to the right and see if you can move the tray back in or do they hit the printheads. If you are able to move it all the way in, then you will not be able to move the carriage by hand out of the service station. Leave it there and now turn on the plotter and see what happens. If you can not move the tray back in no matter where the carriage sits, then it is not installed correctly.