1st time damper replacement, I've read the service manual 3 times, watched some videos... but have a question

[dreko]

Roland LEC2-300

How critical is it for one to pull ink back up the line when replacing the dampers. I see some guys use a syringe to pull ink back closer to the head.
Assuming I don't have a syringe.... won't a light choke cleaning just pull/remove/bleed out the air in the ink lines?

-I've read some guys use a ink fill command in service mode, watch the ink getting pushed up the line... then stop the process close to the dampers.
-I know about closing the choke ports on the printer

Should I try to pinch the black ink lines to help stop the backflow?
How about using a small stopper at the end of each ink line?


Any first time advice appreciated.

 

[Solventinkjet]

If you connect the damper to the line and there are no bad seals etc. you can use a tapered syringe and pull ink through the damper. The damper will prevent backflow.

If you don't have a syringe, the choke cleaning will do the trick as well but the syringe method wastes the least amount of ink.

 

[netsol]

Solventinkjet sells the best tapered syringe for this purpose

it fits any size line. ANYONE who has gone through the aggravation of trying to pull ink through when the printer gets stubborn will tel. You the syringe is the bet money you will ” ever spend.

in 2016 I got so frustrated I threatened to wheel the Roland sc545-ex out to the garbage.
(not an empty threat, ask me what happened to my first 55” HP)

you shoul look at solvent inkjet‘s site. Lots of neat items, spare parts etc.

 

[dreko]

Ok, cool. I'll take a look at Solventinkjet

The damper replacement went well. Not as bad as a I thought.
Had to do 2 choke cleanings to purge the air out of the line... so the syringe will help next time.

Everything looks good. Nozzle test, media gap test, calibration alignment tests... however, the printing is looking a bit blurry
I'm not sure what that is.. .but I'm assuming it's the UV ink (as it was very very hot here , and we didn't have the AC on 24/7)
Hopefully fresh inks will clear up the soft/slightly blurry printing

Otherwise, not sure what to do next...

 

[netsol]

all my machines are older.
a very handy thing to have is

https://www.amazon.com/HTOMT-Automotive-Protected-Adapters-Bleeding/dp/B07471TKRF/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=39W5VJ5KJEXVN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cvW57mrWGS55ATs65GM7yXMgA8rZpJQeTXvfmmCDhs8KNduyp2y8vEvA85_0L4suAPb9dOM6_k2YXxq4QittW8IDC0cAdKJDIsvMZjBZ1sI7Xz3bpQFSFpkh-nhnhGDtOos1Xv-zd0-EmROqJQRe3eLxBUEWDIb2hly3R0_iWWwDyhmJfvlA3cQJZVfcZX_DikT0CMOQDL8Juay7a4R05wrjcbZ_2sZJbMDba865QujlO8pUjvFY2nG3WdpUA2wlp5phFzC3MULkQR4T2qaVwSZNRrDzqGRgbS9ycn6tF1Y.u-_osmrekRDcs9f6zQeJFNAe8AL6cFh1ty2JDs-JSrI&dib_tag=se&keywords=hand%2Bvacuum%2Bpump&qid=1754049083&sprefix=hand%2Bvacuum%2Bpump%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

sometimes the syringe is too small to suck up the air gap in a ink line & the ink pulls back while you empty the syringe

this is also great for change of ink type where you need to empty the lines completely (pulling cleaning fluid through)

 

[dreko]

Do you guys pull air out of the line, through the damper?
I.E. You pull off old damper, fit new damper on... then use the syringe to pull ink through the line into the damper?

Or do you pull ink through the line, right before putting the new damper on?

 

[netsol]

you pull ink through, but, i was referring to the problem when orings let air in and cause printing problems

 

[dreko]

Ok, understood

thanks

 

[Jim Hancock]

Yes, pull through the damper.

 

[dreko]

Yes, pull through the damper.

thank you

 

[truckgraphics]

I haven't done this job (but may have to soon). But occasionally I buy a syringe to de-bubble a wrap or decal. You can get a syringe from most any drug store. No prescription needed, though I tell the pharmacist what I need it for. If it has the needle, you can pull it off with a pair of plyers. Pops right off. A syringe costs between a quarter and a buck.

 

[Jim Hancock]

Keep in mind, for serious ink pulling, you need at least a 30cc syringe. This is my rig for pulling ink in systems that split one line into two lines at the printhead. Obviously convertible to a single line... #12 dispensing needle works for most things. Having a luer lock connection makes it easy to unhook the syringe to empty it, without disturbing your tubing hook for multiple ink pulls. This setup allows for very gentle pulling through the caps, as the glass plunger pulls easier than rubber ones. FYI, my rigid tubing in the pic is stained black from usage.

Syringe - https://www.amazon.com/Gufastoe-Glass-Laboratory-Syringes-Industry/dp/B081Q2S7T6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=YU4SPEZ3XRQ4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8lpP5vxsL1m9mMWdLmFmrcig5RBq3H2BGu2ynmCUiiGozfAHhl4c2BFe6bDFVjmNbhwsDFhEAcuKWQS1gkARc3CO2Qy3oyfsst3S9JOb2TmIDSTr85wDbJLiTokBhY66Y5aFNG3s6mO1-SwokGKWN1f9VYkravMQwu7Qlp1rOPQjHm7ht7suCo1stfDMgRgPhtklq7wGvRlTuvlHqVsq6BQcmpfTY5BM9ejzaG5rJJk.ve2uvrehAVhnJtD2e-WIXH31a3-IGKDV6aLvcFtxXb0&dib_tag=se&keywords=luer+lock+glass+syringe&qid=1738777150&sprefix=luer+lock+glass+syringe+,aps,160&sr=8-19&xpid=KrfgIvJlKO117&th=1

Dispensing needles - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LM8LTT...4GKNDIZZ&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Flexible tubing (1 foot) - https://www.amazon.com/Quickun-Silicone-Brewing-Kegerator-Aquaponics/dp/B08BRC5FPB/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1LFMO6YVGSXLD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-Lx-q4H1lKB0Gu1N0-8xkTOTWofZ_urEA72ofwRNMHQYiL0N3Mk3cVYmdIQO81oKgeSc5nuYsUCzK1PGb6qnvqcdagGj95ggkvwPX13RrstU2W2RVJPyRVKs_qPJ0iZUL2uYGrk26w8BoHuvyJ9mzsdUdl_l9YT6xLD8Zue_nG9Knv9LH3mf_AMlVA2WUR0yPmDJic6FbRWlSljJD0ZEEbVpUVfq81l9kjo92taiCRY.vHb9frzIaNk2fWZxVdFuVmXIdr5cEY_D5dwO4smNNjI&dib_tag=se&keywords=4mm+id+tubing&qid=1740678712&sprefix=4mm+id+tubing,aps,180&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Y-splitters - https://www.amazon.com/Hitefu-Plastic-Fitting-Splicer-Household/dp/B0CLJCJPXG/ref=sr_1_5?crid=KG2PXMHM6GX4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vH8ILJ3laHckLK84iTSl3LoBWOwraLzYSnjhPv6_nIKqR0HVKRvRVleoXyO86NUz-aRu0eCDnOPnqRP3M68DWHI4AVSKpvffPtDiZ48kjAD9Wdyxy2BbFqTVRECFmeX34q5Ms6f-YmLwqrg894NgGWGma5Nn16SuFldIrLug8duHBNK_puFULuaePXWa3RH50RNzQ_Z2JAmglavhMiHysG5vqNC-2zlrHnRXchhM0rE.A7L5b6EG6-1eNaubfZOuTZwgYhWrgiOWSEfJjvo55TE&dib_tag=se&keywords=Y-Connector,+1/8"%2BHose%2BBarb&qid=1740592015&sprefix=y-connector%2C%2B1%2F8%2Bhose%2Bbarb%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-5&th=1

Rigid tubing - https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Nylon...d_r=30e0e681-e3b4-4b2a-b97d-87d9ba818014&th=1