Photosmart 3310 printing issue - seemingly ink leaks and alignement failures

[copMom]

Same problems here.  Still have lots of cartridges.. does anyone know of another printer that takes the 02 cartridges so mine won't go to waste?  From all the feedback, I think it's going to be a lot cheaper to just buy a new printer instead of trying to repair this one.  The main reason I bought this model (3310) was because I could use it for old negatives.

[mdeck]

hpilk: Any progess with taking it apart?  How about fixing it?

copMom: A quick web search (am I allowed to say Google?) says the 02 cartridges work in Photosmart D7360 and 8250
Photo Printers and the HP Photosmart 3100, 3200 and 3300 All-in-Ones.  I don't know when they stopped making them, but none of these are currently in production.

-- mdeck

[copMom]

Thanks for the reply, but I don't want to even try taking it apart since all the previous posts indicate that others that have done that haven't had any success, so why bother?  Strange how all the compatible printers that take the 02 ink have been discontinued!  Guess that's so we'll all have to get other types for replacing our printers!  I believe that's called 'designed obsolescense"!! 

One thing I have discovered with HP's Vivera inks.. they run, bleed when they get a teensy bit of wet on them!  I'm referring to my return address labels that I've printed and mailing on a rainy day.  I've had to put a piece of scotch tape over them so they won't bleed!

My older printer that takes #45 never did that.

[hpilk]

I may have solved it, but the victory will be pyrrhic, as I've already bought a replacement.

Has to do with that stupid lever on top of the print head.

More to follow.

[mdeck]

Hi hpilk,

More a moot point (from your perspective) than a Pyrrhic victory, wouldn't you say?

In any case, it makes a big difference to me, since I haven't yet bought a replacement (and I'm unemployed, so I need to keep this one in working order).  I encourage you to keep up the good fight!  🙂

A picture would be worth 10,000 words....  What model are you working from?

-- mdeck

[hpilk]

Hi MD

I will seethis through to the last blue bloody drop of ink.

I have made a Flip video of this mess and will edit down and send the link on You tube within a day or so I hope.

One more experiment to try tomorrow, and I will have the answer. For sure.

[kpanderson89]

Hi everyone,

I have a similar problem with a similar printer, but when I started to look closely it seems that I am missing the sponge, which I'm guessing would cause the porblem.  Is there anyway to get a new sponge?

[hpilk]

The Final answer is:

Can't fix.

to MD- I found what I believe is the core problem; there are two plastic levers that move a flexible metal plate on the top of the print head, which in turn actuates the rubber reservoirs, pumping ink through the system. They are friction fit on an actuator arm. One of the levers is cracked over the hole where it's suppossed to fit tightly, now it doesn't, so-half the reservoirs don't pump ink. It had actually fallen off completely (may have been my fault-when trying to move print head I pulled on the lever actuator assembly, but I think not, cause It was already not in the right place.) so until I picked up the printer to move it and the piece fell out of the bottom, I didn't even know it existed.  

I know I didn't break anything , becasue my printouts at the end of this adventure looked pretty much identical to how they looked at the start. This is something internal, for sure.

to KP- I also found the sponge to be in poor condition, looks disintegrated, but I'm not sure it relates. The material is that coarse black carbony stuff, probably meant to clean and wick ink away. It was really friable and bits of it were everywhere.

Anyway, sorry this didn't end well. Try the Canon MX882 as replacement. A little bigger footprint but HP has nothing equivalent to touch it's features.

[mdeck]

Hi hpilk,

Thanks for the info.  My printer has been tipped every way till Sunday, but I didn't notice any loose parts (.... which is not to say that I didn't nuke a few plastic tabs on the chassis when going through disassembly) -- there was of course plenty of ink floating around.

I concur with your note to KP that the sponge isn't at issue. 

And I thank you for your recommendation -- it does indeed look like it's got everything I'm looking for (separate inks, SDHC, photo printing, yada yada), except for the negative scanner (which is hard to find on any new units; don't they realize that people still have nondigital photos?!?!), for a not-outrageous price.  You have just saved me days of over-analysis!  If you're evern in Chicago, I owe you a drink. 🙂

Thanks for all the sharing! 🙂

-- mdeck

[copMom]

Thanks for the mention of the alternate printer (Canon MX882).  I've made a note of it and will seriously check it out.  At the moment this HP is doing just fine for printing out my normal email printing and labels, etc. IN BLACK, but as for the colors, it's a total waste.  Actually I did originally buy this model because it did work on those old negatives so I could scan them in but that's not the end of the world.  I'm sure if we did some checking they probably have machines that can process our old time negatives.  Hate to think of all those old pictures going down the tube that I've accumulated since the year one!  Back to when my 4 kids were just little ones, and now they're all in their 40's and 50's .. so that shows how long I've hung onto those negatives!!!! 

Just wanted to clarify.. my printer doesn't (yet?) have a leakage problem, just will not print in colors anymore, and the inks are all pretty new!  So, I'll keep it running until I need to print out a photo or something in color.  Just hate having to spend money on a newer one, and really hate that all my inks will go to waste!  Still have about 8 refills that are unused.

One more thing, I noticed on the black ink box there's a list of all the printers that 02 ink will work on!  A lot more than what it shows online!