Lexmark black ink cartridge refilling instructions for, Z11, Z31, Z51, Z52, 1100, 4076, 7000, 10xx, 20xx, and 32xx.
Please note: This is not a Lexmark approved procedure. Do not put anything other than our recommended ink into the cartridges. This procedure is new and is subject to change without notice. It is intended for use by the printer owner.
Step 1:
To be successful the cartridge must be in good working condition and should not have been empty for more than one hour. If it has been empty for days, we suggest you get a new cartridge.
Locate the vent hole on the top of the cartridge, see photo below.
Use the small hand drill to enlarge this hole. The hole should be twice the diameter of the needle or air will not be able to escape when the ink is put in.
Step 2:
Using the syringe, attach the needle and draw about 10cc's of ink. Insert the needle into the enlarged hole as far as possible, see photo. Then, draw back slightly, 1/8". This is to prevent the needle from getting blocked by the sponge material.
Step 3:
Compress syringe slowly and firmly to inject the ink, see photo. Always keep the needle as deep into the sponge as possible. If you were to inject ink into the top of the sponge, it would create an air pocket in the sponge and the cartridge would not work properly.
Pull the needle out and reinsert it at a different angle once or twice during the refilling process. Keep injecting slowly until you have injected 10 cc's of ink. Do not put any more ink into the cartridge.
Step 4:
Remove the needle and wipe any excess ink from the cartridge. Fold a paper towel 4 times and hold it against the print head. You should see a nice black spot of ink develop. Do not wipe across the print head, only blot it. Hold the paper towel against the print head for 2 to 3 minutes. This will remove any excess ink and air trapped at the bottom of the sponge.
Step 5:
Install the cartridge in the printer and run one cleaning cycle. Set up an 8x10 page of solid black using your word processor or graphics software. Print 10 black pages. On the first page it may not look perfect, but by the 10th page it should look very good. If you have skipping and white areas with no ink, see the trouble shooting section below.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Air in the Sponge - Air or foamy ink in the sponge will make the cartridge print intermittently. Fold a paper towel 4 or 5 times and press it against the print head. Wrap some rubber bands or string around the cartridge and the paper towel and let it set for one hour. This will wick ink and trapped air out of the sponge. After the hour is up, you should have a paper towel that is soaked in ink. Wipe off the cartridge and put some more ink into it. Install in the printer, run a cleaning cycle and print some black pages.
Clogged Jets -If you get skipping or severe banding this indicates that some of the jets are clogged. This is common with cartridges that have been empty for more than one hour. Boil some water in a tea kettle and pour some into a saucer. Hold the print head, just the bottom of the cartridge, in the hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then take the cartridge to the printer while it is still warm and run a cleaning cycle and print black pages. You may have to repeat this a few times to get it going.
Electrical Problems - If you are getting plenty of ink on the paper towel, but nothing is coming out of the cartridge when you try to print, then it is an electrical problem. Under the foil on the side of the cartridge, there is some electronic circuits. They are very delicate. If something has impacted or hit this surface, chances are the electronics are damaged. The only remedy for this is a new cartridge.
For extra syringes, needles or other tools please see our accessories page.
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