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Refill Instructions

Updated July 30, 1999

Many different Lexmark/IBM Printers

also Compaq, Sharp, Olivetti, DEC, NEC, and many other brands.

Cartridges

Lexmark 13400HC, Black, use WJ1010 Black ink
Lexmark 1361400, Black, use WJ1010 Black ink
Lexmark 1361760, Tri-color Photo Cartridge
Lexmark 13619HC, Tri-color
Lexmark 13620HC, Black, use WJ106 Black ink
Lexmark 1380479, This Black cartridge uses Canon BJI-642 instructions and WJ137 Black ink
Lexmark 1380490, Black, use WJ162 Black ink
Lexmark 1380491, Cyan, use WJ241 Cyan ink
Lexmark 1380492, Magenta, use WJ634 Magenta ink
Lexmark 1380493, Yellow, use WJ708 Yellow ink
Lexmark 1380619, Tri-color
Lexmark 1380620, Black, use WJ106 Black ink
Lexmark 1380630, This Black cartridge uses Canon BC-02 instructions and WJ114 Black ink
Lexmark 1381400, Black, use WJ1010 Black ink
Lexmark 1382050, Black, use WJ106 Black ink
Lexmark 1382060, Tri-color

Special Note

Many other cartridges, including those from DEC, Olivetti, Okidata, and others use cartridges with a similar design to the Lexmark/IBM cartridges. Do Not use these instructions for HP 51626A or 51629A cartridges.

Theory

There are two basic cartridge designs:

Black or uni-color cartridges hold black ink or ink of a single color.
Tri-color cartridges hold 3 seperate colors

The ink in these cartridges is retained because the cartridges have internal sponges. These cartridges are similar in construction, except that some have a single black or uni-color chamber, whereas the other tri-color cartridges have three chambers for cyan, magenta, and yellow.

In general, black and uni-color cartridges have a small hole in the top.
In general, tri-color cartridges have a red cap which must be removed.

Step 1) Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate a spill.

Step 2) We must remove the plastic top from all tri-color (red) cartridges. You may use either of two methods:

Gently clamp the cartridge bottom in a vise or similar device. Grab the top with a large wrench or set of pliers and crack off the top. This will likely break some plastic, but this is generally cosmetic damage.
Lay the cartridge on a solid surface and put the edge of a sharp knife at the intersection of the different colors of plastic. Hit it sharply with a hammer. Then pull off the top. You will see three different fill holes.

Step 3)

For the black and uni-color cartridges, take a syringe bottle and fill it 1/3 to 1/2 full of ink -- about 10 to 15 ml.
For the tri-color cartridges, you will only need about 5 ml of ink -- about 1/6 of a syringe bottle.

Step 4)

The black and uni-color cartridges require a single fill hole. You can create this fill hole by drilling or melting a 1/16 inch (2 mm) hole on the lower level of the top surface, 1/3rd of the way from either side of the cartridge.
For the tri-color cartridge, test which hole takes which color by inserting a toothpick or an empty syringe needle into each hole, removing the probe and looking at the color. Draw a diagram so you'll remember which hole takes which color. Tape over two of the holes so the ink won't accidentally contaminate the other two colors if a chamber overflow while filling it.

Step 5) Insert the needle fully into the appropriate hole. Inject the ink very S-L-O-W-L-Y and watch until the sponge is saturated. You must insert the needle deep into the cartridge to avoid trapping air under the ink. The end of the needle should be near the bottom of the cartridge. (Some colors will not be empty, so don't expect the sponge to absorb the entire amount.

On the color cartridges, if you notice a drop of ink hanging under the cartridge as you fill, blot the drop away immediately. Otherwise, it may migrate up into a different, less filled chamber and cause cross-color contamination. Step 6) Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for the other two colors with different syringes.

Step 7) Remove the tape on the holes of the tri-color cartridge.

Step 8) Put the tri-color's red top back on and tape down in place.

Step 9) Set above a paper towel for an hour as a drip precaution. Expect a few drips. It is important at this step to keep the cartrige from touching the towel, since the towel will draw out the ink.

To Clean the Printhead

Only clean the printhead if you get poor print quality or no print.
Be sure that you don't have an air bubble problem.
- If cleaning the printhead causes the situation to get worse rather than improve, you probably have an air bubble problem.
- If you have an air bubble problem, you need to re-inject some ink very deep into the cartridge.
Follow the directions in the printer manual to run the cleaning routine.
If this doesn't work, take the cartridge to the nearest hot water faucet.
- Turn on the hot water. Let it get hot.
- Put only the printhead portion (where the ink comes out) under the hot water for 2 to 3 seconds
- Dry off the cartridge using a soft tissue.
- Re-insert the cartridge into the printer.
- Run the normal cleaning routine a few times.
If this doesn't work, soak only the printhead in simmering water for up to 2 hours. You may add up to 50 percent ammonia for really tough clogs.

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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