Clogged nozzles?

[dragon-rider]

This has been driving me insane for some time now.
We are using a Visi-Sub system with an Epson Stylus Photo 1400 printer, (all inherited equipment that nobody here understands particularly well). The printer is new, and works perfectly with the standard ink cartridges it came with. The Visi-Sub system is also new, I installed it myself, following the instructions to-the-letter. All settings appear to be correct, but any printing at all is very patchy, as if nozzles are clogged - mainly the black.
The standard printer software nozzle-check print shows the black as "dirty" or "clogged", but the clean procedure makes no (or very little) difference.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation but I wanted to try and get all the info in there.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Mark.

[Scotty@BMS]

You may need to do upwards of ten headcleans in all to clear the blockage, Mark. But don't do any more than four at a time. Give it a good couple of hours before trying again. That it works with the original cartridges points to the cart & tube assembly as being your problem. If repeated head cleans don't sort the problem, contact your supplier, they should be more than happy to replace the part for you to get you printing.

[dragon-rider]

Yeah, I did suspect the cartridge and tube assembly. I've lost count of the number of cleans I've tried - but yes, I've made sure I've not done more than 4 at a time, usually with the most part of a day before trying again, (I don't like to disrupt classroom time... teachers often hate that too).
Originally there was an existing Visi-Sub system fitted to an older Epson 1400, I tried to get it going as it was already set up, but it was very patchy, but not just the black. That's why I went for the already-purchased and still boxed printer, along with the previously purchased and unboxed Visi-Sub system. I thought: "brand new everything, should work fine"... Boy was I wrong!
Is it worth fitting the older system to the new printer? There are two previously used systems here, would I be right in thinking I should be able to fit one of them and maybe after a few cleans it should work? Or would they be far too dried up?
The other problem is that nobody here knows who the supplier is.

[Scotty@BMS]

You could try what you have suggested, and it may work (or not!). Visisub is Artainium by another name, so we could supply you the replacement part if it comes to that. Shouldn't the invoices, or copies of, for the equipment be with the Bursar?

[dragon-rider]

I'll give it a try, can't really make anything any worse, and I'll bear your offer in mind.
As far as Invoices go, I've been told nothing can be found, so I'll leave that with the powers that be - that's a hornet's nest I'd rather avoid
Thanks for the help and advice, much appreciated,
Mark.

[Scotty@BMS]

No worries at all, let me know how you get on. If you end up having to bin the set up I'd strongly advise against using an Epson in a school environment. Go with the Ricoh.

[Justin]

Any chance this could just be air in the system? Have you tried pulling ink through the carts with a syringe?

[dragon-rider]

That's another thing I'd thought of, but I hadn't tried anything because I didn't want to damage anything - probably sounds silly, and shows what a noob I am to this, but I'm a little uncertain as to where I'd put the syringe? I know how delicate these things can be. I'm willing to give it a go however.

[AJLA]

Is there a rubber bungy type thing in the top of the carts?

[dragon-rider]

There is, yes, one in each colour. I assume the syringe would go in the little hole in the middle of that? or does the rubber thingy come out?