Jv3s

[mopar691]

Got a handle on a JV3S for less than a grand. 1 Head is going but usable. I have no solvent experience but lots of time on Epson 9000's and 9600's. Can rebuild these in no time. Along with these I have thermal in house also.

Currently I am outsourcing a average 100 sq feet per week and could increase my usage as not as much thermal thru the gerber and roland.

Wondering if I should consider this and learn from it? Few months back almost went new but decided to upgrade location first. So now I have about a 10,000 shop and need a few more things to fill it.

Just looking for a little insight on this machine.

 

[SightLine]

Oldest of the JV3 machines - that is the early 3 head model and it sounds like you are going to need to replace all 3 heads. Probably best to go ahead and replace the pumps, capping station, and dampers while you are at it. Going to need to do a lot of detailed calibrations and the heads along are going to cost well over double what you paid for the machine. I'd also check that it's firewire board is working and communicating with a computer still too. If you go to all the trouble it will be a solid machine - just not terribly fast since it's only a 3 head machine.

 

[artbot]

i'd replace the inner pump tube. dunk the capping station in acetone, new dampers (put them in an ultrasonic cleaner, they may come out perfect, i've seen it happen). before getting ink in the printer, i'd fill carts with cleaning solution (homebrew, recipes on the board) and let the printer cycle solution for a week (just put your ink chips on clear refillables). also new data ribbons. if the lines look murky, reverse blast them with a syringe from the damper side to the carts. ...use solution but bump it up with more acetone.

if you can keep the caps sealing, and the pumps unclogged, and the wiper cleaned every day (baby sitting) you may have a money maker. but this printer will not be like the old epsons. it will take a while to quickly recognize warning signs.

 

[mopar691]

Well I am going to pick it up on Sunday. Got it for a better price. My understanding it has been plugged in the whole time powered on and cycling.

artbot I will follow your advice posted here (thanks by the way) and I am sure I will have some follow up questions as I am currently collecting any information available regarding these units.

I am aware of a different learning curve than my current printers and am able to pick thing up what I feel is pretty quickly.

 

[Letterbox Mike]

If it's in decent working condition and you got it for less than a grand it's a good deal, even if it needs a new head. If it needs all new heads,pumps, dampers, lines, etc., you'll probably end up putting $3-4k more into it to get it working well. If it's a 3-head machine, that may not be worth it honestly.

It all depends on what you're paying per month for the 400-ish sq. ft. you're outsourcing but you may be just as well off looking at leasing a new printer. You can lease a new JV33-160 for around $450 per month, and that's a significant upgrade from an original JV3.

 

[artbot]

just because it's cycling means nothing. those pumps will still clog, the caps will get gunked up, the wiper will get gummy and the printer will eventually fail just cycling. get a printed sample please. if you get a decent test draw then buy it. it will make you money. if all the heads looks moderately clogged. get the buyer to do a head soak for a day or two and come back. insist on a decent test draw. otherwise you are buying a jv3s for about $3500. which is a bad deal.

 

[Letterbox Mike]

just because it's cycling means nothing. those pumps will still clog, the caps will get gunked up, the wiper will get gummy and the printer will eventually fail just cycling. get a printed sample please. if you get a decent test draw then buy it. it will make you money. if all the heads looks moderately clogged. get the buyer to do a head soak for a day or two and come back. insist on a decent test draw. otherwise you are buying a jv3s for about $3500. which is a bad deal.

Yeah, this.

 

[mopar691]

I am figuring worse case scenario. I never hope something is good sight unseen. Going 350 miles to look at this on Sunday with a friend who is is picking up tanning beds within 10 miles of this place. Trailer already there. No gas paid or transport. All I have to do is help load 1100 lb beds in pieces.

If this thing communicates with the computer and moves, I am bringing it home for 500 bucks. If I get into it and it needs everything I might consider not doing it. But I am not out much money and I consider it just one less weekend at the casino.

Considered leasing new equipment but opted for new location instead. Would like another year or 2 to build up and purchase outright. Less payments is good by me. Fits my business model better.

But in all seriousness if you think i should be more hesitant about this I shall take considerations home with me tonight and think more on this. I figured 3500 in a pretty much refurbed printer would not be out of line. Even if it is a older model such as this. Also in my thoughts is by doing this i'm going head first into the technical side of these which may or may not be usefull later on. Better to know and not use then need to do and not know. Maybe?

 

[SightLine]

Even if the firewire board is shot (Error I/F 20 / 21) communicating thats not really a deal breaker. So many JV3's are getting scrapped for parts now that more and more parts are coming up on eBay daily. There is a firewire board for one on eBay right now for $300 - 2 years ago you would not have found one for under $600. So in some respects is it getting cheaper to rehabilitate one. The print heads are the kicker - new or in perfect condition those are going to be $600+ no matter what.

 

[Robert M]

Parts

MOPAR
(does anyone really know what that stands for?)

I have the parts at www.solventinkjet.com, give us a call, I have techs on staff who can trouble shoot your printer.

 

[mopar691]

Move Over Power Approaching Rapidly...

Actually its from "Motor Parts Company" which back in the day during the big merger (Chrysler, Plymouth, DeSoto and so on) who they contracted to build parts and mechanical assemblies.

HAHA. Ya I was looking at your site when I first considered this and used your pricing as my structure for total costs.

 

[mopar691]

Picked this up last weekend. Started last night on the cleanup. All colors pulled cleaning carts thru heads. Pumps draw good. Caps are actually still sealing. Supplied carts all expired in Dec and Jan so test printing was a no go.

They had dropped yellow completely and why took out of service. Took a bit to get draw but now this am is is pulling. So soaking a but more now.

New carts, caps, dampers and line should be arriving today. Wondering about manifolds and if I should worry about clogging in them?

Definitely going to be adding a bit of length on some of these lines to the waste tank to make maintenance a bit easier.

Otherwise looking good so far.

 

[artbot]

run the waste lines out side the machine individually. then drill four or six separate holes across the top of the waste tank. it's a great upgrade to be able to quickly access a single colors waste line quickly.

 

[mopar691]

Ya I saw a pic in one of your old posts. That looks like a great idea for sure

 

[mopar691]

So finally got around to loading this up with ink, So far I have dampers and caps in it. Had heads soaking this whole time and figured I should give it a whirl.

I think fairly well for the price I paid. Now to get some profiling up and going and see what it can do.