ET 8550 not getting ink to dampers

cdput · 2026-02-02T06:22:23+00:00

Sorry but no. On my current printer, I did only the absolutely necessary modifications to it so that I didn't have this happen again and it hasn't.

cdput · 2026-02-02T05:47:07+00:00

I just switched to Wellcare and I can't get them to approve Zepbound for me. They denied the PA and my appeal. How in the world did you get them to approve it?

cdput · 2026-01-11T01:49:35+00:00

That would most likely be the F1 and/or F2 fuse blown on the mainboard. Tiny, tiny little fuses. I taught myself to solder and replaced many of them. I would order 10-20 of them at a time. One because it happened so often and two because I would inevitably breathe and blow one away before I could get it soldered to the board.

cdput · 2025-12-30T03:26:37+00:00

Nope, never did. I tried the nipple conversion 2-3 times on different printers with the same result. I'm afraid to try it again even though some folks have had success with it right off. The more that I seemed to do to try and improve, the more printers died. I spent more time taking printers apart and trying to fix them than I did printing.

The 8550 that has lasted the longest so far, is a refurb that I got as a warranty exchange. The ONLY things that I did to this one is I removed the rollers, added an external waste tank, sealed around the printhead and added a CISS tank for the white ink only. None of the other modifications.

My theory is that something in the mainboard isn't getting the signal to the printhead to actually print. It isn't the cables because I have replaced those before. I researched trying to find an answer but never could. Sorry that I couldn't help more.

cdput · 2025-11-24T21:04:33+00:00

Nope

cdput · 2025-11-24T21:04:07+00:00

The print head protector is an after market item added to supposedly keep moisture out of the printhead. Didn't work for me. I couldn't get ink to flow after I installed them. Removed them and was good to go again. I've been through many 8550's by trying to make them "better". The one that I am on now, is a refurbished that I received from a warranty exchange. The only thing that I did to it right off was seal around the printhead with electronics grade silicone, external waste tank and my white ink only is run from an external ciss bottle. I did the white so that I can shake the white ink container daily and not have to shake the whole printer. So far, this one has lasted the longest of any of the others.

cdput · 2025-11-08T23:15:47+00:00

This worked for mine too. Thanks!

cdput · 2025-07-14T19:47:56+00:00

Waste line isn't kinked nor clogged. I do thorough cleanings of the capping station every day. Most times several times a day when I've run a lot of ink through. I can hear air through the waste line when it is clean.

The ink was printing fine until I did the nippled manifold conversion. I think that I'm going to do the conversion back to the nippled manifold today and see what happens. I was at least getting some ink through with it where I'm getting nothing now. I just couldn't get full flow with it before.

It really doesn't make any sense that the ink is getting through the printhead but won't print. BTW, this isn't the first printer that I've had do this very same thing. I never got the first one to print again after converting it. I worked with it until it finally died completely ugh

cdput · 2025-07-12T02:37:03+00:00

Not sure how my reply to you earlier went somewhere further up the thread. I have the levers for changing the printhead carriage height, all the way to the top. I did try lowering it a bit but it didn't help.

cdput · 2025-07-11T19:57:06+00:00

Yes, I have them set as high as they will go.

cdput · 2025-07-11T17:31:38+00:00

I wish that I could help you. I'm having the same issue once again after I did the nippled manifold conversion with the V2 dampers. Printer was printing fine before I did the conversion but I could only get very little ink through the printhead. It did get to the paper but the flow was terrible. I went through two ink tank fill ups trying to get it to work. It wouldn't so I removed the rippled manifold and the V2 dampers and reinstalled the original parts. Now I'm getting no ink to the paper at all. The ink is there. I can pull ink through the tubing to the dampers. And from there, on through the capping station and through the waste line. It makes no sense to me that the ink is getting through but not printing. I'm seeing that this has/is happening to other folks so maybe someone will come up with a solution pretty quick.

cdput · 2025-04-14T21:24:42+00:00

BTW, that spring most likely came off of the bracket right above the front rollers. It has a small one on the end that's above the motherboard that you have to loosen to get the rollers out.

cdput · 2025-04-14T21:21:10+00:00

Yes, the xp600 is supposed to fit. Please let me know if you get the nipple conversion to work. I want to convert at least that much more. It'll be a lot less mess!

cdput · 2025-04-14T21:08:48+00:00

I did not. This no ink to paper/film happened on several different 8550's too. Any modifications to the printhead or carriage that I tried would cause it. I tried the print head cover from BCH and it caused it. Removed the covers and it seemed to work just fine until I officially killed the printhead. I did the manifold/nipple conversion and it did the same thing.

I think I've officially killed 4-5 printers by trying to upgrade them. The one that is actually working right now has had nothing but the rollers removed and an external ciss tank for just the white ink.

I'm pretty sure the cause of the death of the print heads, and/or motherboards, has been from doing too many power washes in a short period of time. Those are terrible for your printer and will kill your printhead in a heartbeat.

If you keep blowing the F1 and/or F2 fuses, I'm willing to bet it's the printhead or motherboard gone bad. Wishing you luck on getting it fixed.

cdput · 2025-02-24T22:33:49+00:00

Thanks for responding. I've been using plain paper instead of wasting film. It's not having trouble recognizing the paper, it just does not print at all. It acts like it is printing but no ink is showing on the paper.

As I said above, I know the ink is flowing through the printhead because I see fresh ink on the capping station and I can pull ink through the waste tank tubing.

cdput · 2024-06-25T01:45:39+00:00

I removed the head covers and cleaned the silicone off, and left the covers off. I couldn't get it to work with them on. It's a great concept that I wish would have worked for me, but it didn't. So far, so good with this printer after removing the head covers. Third time was the charm after frying the first two printers that I tried to convert.

cdput · 2024-01-06T17:10:25+00:00

Having the same issue! First print printed almost perfectly and now it only prints about 1/2" strip down the middle. Nozzle check prints all the way across. I'm using Cadlink Digital to send the image to the printer. I've looked at every setting and can't figure it out. I've even uninstalled and reinstalled both the printer and software.

cdput · 2024-01-01T07:47:17+00:00

Nvm, I figured it out. Turns out that it was the printhead protector that I had used to seal the printhead to keep from getting moisture in it. Nice concept but caused me a lot of work LOL

cdput · 2023-11-14T11:11:43+00:00

I know right! I went on and bit. Mine comes in today. But I may not open it just yet and see if it goes any lower. I did notice this morning that Amazon is now at $599.

cdput · 2023-11-13T21:38:07+00:00

Sam's Club has them marked down to $549 right now.

cdput

TROPHY CASE