Refill Instructions for HP 4-cartridge systems

Also:

HP #10 Cartridges
HP #11 Cartridges
HP #12 Cartridges
HP #88 Cartridges
HP C4841A, C4842A, C4843A, C4844A Cartridges
HP C4804A, C4805A, C4806A, C4836AN, C4837AN, C4838AN Cartridges

Please note that HP #02 cartridges are not currently refillable.

HP Business Inkjet Series Printers

Updated April 7, 2006

Theory

These cartridges are virtually identical and refill the same, with the only differences being the size of the cartridges. The ink in these cartridges is retained because the cartridge develops a slight pressure. These cartridges are plastic boxes which contain ink bags. While some of these cartridges fail after only 3 or 4 refills, most can be filled 20 or more times.

Inks

Black: WJ-1021
Cyan: WJ-291
Magenta: WJ-688
Yellow: WJ-757

Built-in Chip

These cartridges have a built-in electronic chip. Don't Panic! This chip contains a serial number for the cartridge and an expiration date. The expiration date is typically placed about 2 years or so from the date of manufacture, and is also printed on either the box or the cartridge. The way the printer treats this expiration date doesn't depend upon whether or not you have refilled the cartridge. If you refill the cartridge twenty times - or never refill the cartridge - the cartridge will become inoperable after the expiration date. However, this is not such a big deal, since two years or so on a cartridge often means you will have refilled the cartridge a dozen times or more.

If this appears to be a limitation to you, we suggest that you dedicate a computer to hosting the printer and set the date on the computer to March 1997 or some such similar date. This way, the printer will never realize that the expiration date has come and gone. (Of course, having the wrong date may cause other problems in other software you may be running....)

Instructions

Read the entire Instructions below before beginning.

Step 1) Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate a spill such as a sink. Be sure that you are wearing old clothes, since the first time you fill the cartridge, you will probably get some ink on your clothes and hands. You may wish to wear rubber gloves if you don't wish to stain your hands. We also don't recommend refilling as a family project -- it's amazing what a three-year-old can do with a pint bottle of highly concentrated ink! See our General Information for more details.

Step 2) Look at the cartridge. Near the bottom of the cartridge you will see a horizontal break line in the plastic where the two parts of the cartridge snap together.

Step 3) Using a sharp knife or scissor blade, cut the label on the front of the cartridge along the line where the two parts of the cartridge come together.

Step 4) Using a knife or screwdriver, pry apart the cartridge open along the line. Let it hang by the backside label.

Step 5) The exit port is the point where the ink comes out of the cartridge. It has an obvious stem. Place this stem to your right.

Step 6) You will also see a rubber oval-shaped bulb. To the left of this bulb is the fill hole. You will see a small ball in this hole. Stick a pin or the end of a sharp knife into this ball and pry or lift it out of the hole. (Saundra recommends a sharp steak knife! - Don't stab or cut yourself!) Don't lose the ball!

Step 7) Fill your syringe bottle with the appropriate ink. You'll need about 30 ml (1 full syringe bottle) for the regular cartridges, about 75 ml (2 1/2 syringe bottles) for the high capacity black cartridge.

Step 8) Insert the needle 1/4 to 1/2 inch (5-10mm) into the fill hole. Be careful not to puncture the bag, especially if you have a sharp needle.

Step 9) Inject the ink into the opening.

Step 10) Tilt the bag so that the opening is at the top. This will let the air bubble up and out.

Step 11) Using the syringe, suction about 1 ml (1/4 teaspoon) of ink and air frothy mixture out of the top of the bag.

Step 12) Inspect the ball. If it has been damaged, you should use a new ball or the damage may cause a slight leak. (We have additional balls for sale.)

Step 13) Replace the ball in the cartridge. Saundra says, "The tip of a retracted ball-point pen is ideal for this."

Step 14) Turn the bag upside down (stem down) and gently squeeze to check for leaks.

If the Printer says you are still out of ink

The most likely cause is that you have air in the bulk at the bottom of the cartridge. The next few steps are to remove air that may be causing the printer to think that it is out of ink.
Step 15) Tilt the bag so that the exit port is at the bottom facing downward toward your sink.
Step 16) Insert syringe tip into exit port to hold open the spring loaded valve.
Step 17) Press cartridge bulb and HOLD. Do not release until step 20 is complete. This will be messy as ink and air should be released, so work over a sink!
Step 18) Remove syringe tip from exit port.
Step 19) Now release bulb.
Step 20) Wait 5 seconds or so until chamber under bulb is full.
Step 21) If you have excessive air Steps 15 to 20 may have to be repeated 3 times before your cartridge will operate properly.
Step 22) Put the bag back into the cartridge and snap the cartridge back together.

Alternative Method

Joy Siddiqi writes:

I agree that the HP #10 cartridge is easy, but my way is much simpler and much less frustrating. After the ball is removed, I hold the cartridge in my left hand and press gently on the two ends to separate the bag. I refill with a syringe put carefully into the open space. I do the same as your instructions to remove excess ink, then tap the cartidge gently on the table to remove any air bubbles that may have formed. I then replace the ball and top of the cartridge and set upside down a few minutes to be sure there is no leakage, then re-insert into the printer. With this method the bag does not have to be pried out and reinserted, and I have yet to have an air bubble problem. I have never had to press the bulb and remove air with the needle. I can refill all four cartridges and be ready to print again in about 10 minutes.

Typical Problems

The printer says the cartridge has expired.

It has. Either get a new cartridge or reset the date on your computer to a year ago.

The printer does not recognize the existence of the cartridge, or says the cartridge is bad.

Check the tiny copper contacts to make sure that they are clean and making contact with the printer. You may need to clean them with a tissue dampened in warm water, or bend the contacts very slightly outward.

The printer says you are out of ink -- yet you have a full cartridge.

Begin at step 15 and follow the procedure.

All of the lights on the printer are on.

There are a couple of possibilities, none of which are directly related to the ink.

You have a paper jam. Once, we had a tiny piece of paper less than 1 inch square which we finally found was causing the problem.
Your printer has lost its mind. Unplug the printer, completely shut down the computer, and restart both to completely clear the printer's mind.

The bag won't fit into the cartridge.

The bag is probably overfull. Remove some more ink by repeating Step 12.

The cartridge won't print and printhead cleaning routines make the problem worse.

If air is present in the chamber below the bulb, then ink will not be pumped successfully. We need to remove the air.

Using a hypodermic needle or your syringe bottle, insert the needle into the ink exit port and remove about 3 ml (3/4 teaspoon) of ink by suction.
While the needle is still in the ink exit port, squeeze the bulb.
Remove the needle.
Now release the bulb. This should have removed the air.

To Clean the Printhead

If the cartridge initially prints with too much or too little ink, it may be necessary to clean the printhead.

Do not clean the printhead unless you get poor print quality, or no printing.
Locate the HP Printer Utilities folder on your computer and find the Printhead Cleaning button. Run the cleaning software and check for improvement in the printout. You may need to run this software a few times.
Follow the cleaning directions in the printer manual.

To Clean Your Sink

The ink is water-soluble. Use plenty of soap and warm water. You may also need to use Comet or a similar cleaner if the stains persist.

To Clean Your Hands

On hands, the best substance to use is Ink Be Gone^TM, a specially developed hand cleaner available from ACSI Bulk Inks. (To place an order, Click Here.)

To Place An Ink Order

You can telephone us at 1-888-728-2465 (USA Tollfree) or 1+740-374-9949. You can also Order Online or by other ways including by Fax, or by Postal Mail, or by EMAIL.

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