CARTRIDGES SHOULD BE REFILLED PRIOR TO RUNNING OUT OF INK
Damage to the print heads could result from running a dry cartridge.

AFTER

1. Initially the cartridges may release ink.  This is not uncommon when ink has been quickly injected into sponge .  Blot cartridge on paper towel several times to reduce the amount of ink weeping from the cartridge.  This will prevent cross contamination.
   
2. DO NOT install your cartridge until the cartridge has ceased releasing ink.
   
3. Test your printer by printing a nozzle check.  This is accomplished through the "Services" tab and printing a diagnostic page.  If you see lines in your print or incomplete print then perform your printers routine head cleaning.  This can be accomplished through the printers "Services" tab.  If lines are persistent perform an intermediate cleaning and then a prime if required.

WHAT TO KNOW
Due to nature of the print heads on Hewlett Packard cartridges, it is common that after several refills that the cartridge components become fatigued and cease to function.  There are many factors involved in why the cartridge will fail.  How long it takes is partially up to you.  Here are some guidelines to protecting your cartridge and getting the most from it.

1. Never touch the contact points or print head of the cartridge.  Oil from your finger tips will corrode the delicate surface.
   
2. Clean the contact points with a Q-tip or soft coated cleaning cloth (such as those made for CDs or even a coffee filter).  Using distilled or filtered water is recommended.
   
3. Refill the cartridge before it is empty.  HP cartridges use a heating mechanism that heats ink to several hundred degrees on a microscopic level to dispense ink.  Running a dry cartridge for any length of time can 'burn up' the cartridge.
   
4. Expect the inevitable:  Cartridges will eventually cease to work.  Have an extra cartridge on hand.  All printer manufacturers recommend this as well.  It is just good practice to keep a new cartridge available at all times
   
5. Never scrape the contact points or print head area with any type of abrasive material.  This includes paper towels & newspaper.  Always blot.

TROUBLE SHOOTING
CLOGGED JETS (from cartridge sitting out of the printer or printer not being used for a long time)
Clogged jets are very common with cartridges that have sat for a lengthy period of time without use.
To remedy this;  Place a wet paper towel in the microwave for 20 seconds.  Take your cartridge and place the print head on the paper towel.  DO NOT scrape the cartridge along the towel.  Just allow it to rest on the paper towel for 15 seconds.  Repeat on a different portion of the towel.  Blot print head on a dry absorbent cloth or towel.  Hot water will break up the caked ink and start the capillary action working again.

COLOR SHIFT:
Color Shift, such as a green tint or purple tint in output can be the result of filling ink too quickly or allowing ink to wick at the bottom of the cartridge.
Essentially what occurs is that ink from one chamber is allowed to wick back up into another chamber from the print head level. 
To resolve this issue you will need to perform several printer cleanings.  Wait 20-30 seconds after each set.
First perform the printers routine cleaning followed by an intermediate.  If shift is persistent follow with a priming of the cartridge.

Color shift can also be a result of missing ink from one color.  The easiest way to determine which is the problem is to perform the printers diagnostic from the services tab of your printer.  The diagnostic prints a series of nozzle checks.  If the test print lines are not printing the correct colors then your concern can be resolved with the above mentioned method.  If the lines are missing then your concern is ink not flowing properly. 

If ink is not flowing properly check the top of your cartridge to make sure you have not closed off the vent holes at the top of the cartridge.  The vent holes appear as indentations at the top of the cartridge in several locations around the label.  If these are completely sealed then air will not be capable of getting into the cartridge therefore ink can not get out of the cartridge.

The black circles on the 97 cartridge to the left display the locations of the vent holes. Make sure these are not covered by tape

DO NOT SEAL CARTRIDGE COMPLETELY!
It is a common misconception that these cartridges are sealed AIR TIGHT.  Fact is they are not.  When you initially look at a cartridge from the top you'll see that around the label are little indentations in the plastic.  These indentations are part of the air vents that lead into the air paths which lead directly into the colors chambers.  Sealing these completely will prevent air from getting into the cartridge and ink from getting out.  Note:  The amount of ink that leaves the cartridge must be equal to the amount of air that gets into the cartridge otherwise a pressure build up occurs.



DO NOT!
Here are a few "DO NOT DO" for you just to make sure your colors do not contaminate and you do not damage the cartridges.
DO NOT place cartridge in a zip lock bag unless it is in a cartridge clip.  Contact with the bag can cause color to bleed and wick into another chamber.
DO NOT store cartridge on its side.  Storing a cartridge on its side can lead to missing colors when ink settles to one side of the cartridge.
DO NOT use your printer or cartridge if temperature is below recommended printing temperatures.  If ink is too cold it will not flow properly through the cartridge filter screen.  This can inadvertently cause missing and burn the jets.
DO NOT seal the entire cartridge top--do not seal cartridge air tight.
DO NOT reapply the original tape used on the bottom of the cartridge.  This can cause cross contamination as it does not create a completely air tight seal.  It does though assist in pulling ink out of the cartridge which can wick into another set of jets!


Go Back to Page 1. (Refilling the 94 95 96 97 99)
Continue to Page 3. (Ink level Indicators)
My initial refill of these cartridges.