HP 5510 won't print black and colors - printhead removal and cleaning

[@marmoleriaalba7018]

The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system kzbin.infoUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 and a lot cheaper to run. The machine was easy to set up. A small point but I thought they'd be a USB cable included to help with the set up but there was none. I've been using it now for a few weeks and it seems like a good product and superior to my previous printers which were all troublesome HP machines.

[@PeggyS46]

Well I almost was ready to drop my HP printer from the roof along with Dave T., but I stuck with it and did the paper towel thing 3 times and cleaned the head through tools. All of a sudden on the third try, it worked!!! I am so happy. I had just finished printing 25 greeting cards when this happened. They came out so nice, then NO BLACK! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

[@SPZ909]

This worked amazingly well for me. I hadn't used my 5510 in over 8 years, the cartridges were completely tried up of course, I installed new ones but it was printing with a lot of white lines, the documents came out unreadable, but after doing this method 3 times and using the cleaning utility a couple of times it now prints like brand new again, not a smudge or white line to be seen on the documents. I am forever grateful for this video.

[@dogtown1ewok]

Took about 10 tries with warm paper towels but it finally worked. Didn't want to risk taking the printer apart or have to buy a new one since we are on a tight budget. Thank you very much from Mexico.

[@wolfgangschaechter3887]

Folks, this is the most intelligent, well thought out instruction video I've ever seen. I had a dried up printhead that just would not clean with all the usual steps shown in the first part of the video. I've used those steps before with other printers and they work -- but not on this printer. Taking the printhead out per the video was easy and putting it back together was also easy. I don't know if the printer will print black now but that's not because of the video. BRAVO!

[@kufi2906]

I have a 6510 HP- I didn't feel like taking the whole thing apart. So I tried using the paper towels. I did this several times - making sure that the paper towels that was used to dab the heads was soaking wet. Now my printer works great. thank you so much.

[@leanneneal159]

Thank you Marto. In Spring 2020 I successfully cleaned the printhead using this video and brought the printer 'back to life'. Then it stopped working again and I needed to go deeper into the printer. If you attempt cleaning the printhead and your printer doesn't come back to full function, check your printer purge pump. A video by Paolo Marcelli will guide you through this fix. Ultimately I discovered that this printer had dried black ink pretty much everywhere. I used an intense combination of isopropyl alcohol and a syringe on the wire mesh that the black ink cartridge rests on. I also used compressed air to get the dried ink out of the printhead. I am far from an expert, but figured that the printer wasn't working anyway and I couldn't really break it worse. Honestly I am shocked that my printer actually is back to working again now and it is at least as good as new. I wouldn't have ever attempted this fix with out these amazing videos and the comments from others who also tried and succeeded in saving their printer. Thank you all!!

[@Mrbobinge]

Thanks Leanne for pointing us to Paolo Marcelli. It adds the next step to Marto's gold-dust tutorial.

[@alexandrebeaulieu3690]

I am back in business!!! Did the first step with the paper towel under the tray, brought back some black. I had a lease something (started with no black at all.) Then removed the tray added warm water with the paper towel over and under, reinstall, ran an alignement test and I could see on the paper that black was improving as the head was doing his thing (probably water traces.) Ran all cleaning option. Now it looks perfect!!! Thanks a lot!!!

[@emilymahaffey2159]

It worked! I used the paper towel method. I warmed a paper towel in the microwave soaked in bottled water (no mineral content) and a small amount of Isopropyl alcohol. It's amazing how much ink was gunked up in there. I probably used at least 5 soaked paper towels until they came out mostly clean. Ink is printing crisper than ever. Thank you!

[@MarkVanDerVoort]

Awesome tutorial. I just had to to the trick with the wet paper towels a few times, added some extra cleaning with compressed air, and it's working again. It's been 2.5 years after the last operation. No need to actually remove the printhead!

[@laquitahogan9403]

Appreciable! I can't tell how much I was worried to face the same problem but thanks to youagain who have the excellent solution always. Work perfectly!

[@andrewmacmichael9647]

I used your video to replace the print head in a HP 5520 that our family have had for a few years. Very happy with the printer and we bought the replacement part after the initial clean idea did not work. The area under the print head had a lot of residual black ink underneath on the pad, which I cleaned out. After reassembling the printer with the new part, the printer completed diagnostics. It is taking a few prints for the ink to print dark, but your assistance is very appreciated. especially the hidden screw under the printer label. Thanks.

[@marto8385]

Andrew Macmichael Thanks, glad to hear that the video was helpful for you and that you fixed your printer :)

[@leef8777]

+Andrew Macmichael I did not have as good of luck as you. I replaced the print-head and still nothing. Glad it worked for you.

[@ahancyk]

It looks like you had to clean the service station and wash the peristaltic pump tubes that clog with time.

[@jlajunior9935]

Hi , this video is in portuguese but i think it may help you to clean the little pipes with residual black ink .. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXLKf6OdltR_etE

[@dracnox6101]

I too was able to fix my HP 5520, which was not printing black. A few tips I can add: 1. When reinserting the thoroughly cleaned print head, my printer didn't print with *any* color - which made me a little nervous, because that was even worse. I was able to fix that by using the integrated "Clean Print Head" Function that was also shown first in this video. 2. After I printed the "Print Quality Report" a few times, the quality of black got better and better - which I really appreciated - but the other colors were getting worse. As my cartridges were a little low on ink before the cleaning process, I suspected that by removing the ink still in the print head there was finally too little ink in the cartridges left. So I inserted new cartridges and after that all colors worked fine :) 3. My printer made weird, worrying "crash" noises and told me to fix a jammed print head after some time. That was caused by the plastic strip not being inside the "reader" on back of the print head. I should've been more patient and watched the video until at least 6:38 (which - in the end - I did), where this is explicitly mentioned =) I hope to save someone a bit of time with these tips :)

[@RoadTestSuccess]

GREAT RESULTS - Had to pull the print head (made very easy by this video) and thoroughly clean. Used my kid's sonic retainer and submerged the print head in alcohol. Let soak and sonic clean for 20 minutes. Flushed with hot tap water and then let dry. After several test prints and a little bit of time sitting with ink cartridges back in, the printer works great again. SAVED ME!!

[@ICGorillaP]

I took a little cough syrup syringe filled with cleaning solution and squirted it through the print head and kept dabbing it with a paper towel until there was barely anything coming out, then I did the wet paper towel underneath thing as shown here. Instead of letting it sit, I went back and forth over the wet paper towel and got a lot more ink off that way until almost nothing was left. I injected cleaner once more into the black print head. I let it sit for a couple hours to dry, then put the black ink cartridge back in and let it sit. I ran the print head cleaning tool again and it worked. Thanks man!

[@danamcgovern6823]

THANK YOU!!! I was just about to give up and trash my 5515 printer before seeing this. I had used the printer's self-clean tool several times, but was still missing 1 out of every 3 lines of text. After using this paper towel trick, it is printing beautifully! So glad I found this video!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wilcotenwolde]

After running true this complete howto my printer still did not print black, but after running - again - the cleaning option on the printer after cleaning the printhead it start printing black again. It's great, it's true, the best, fantasic! This fixed my HP 5520, thank you!

[@anaishervouin7503]

Thanks, because of you my printer have now a second life. HP said to me to buy an other printer... Thanks so much for your video! Printer : Photosmart 5520

[@martinpreece7773]

5510 -I only need black text and seldom have to print.Could not get black to work The procedure didnt work even after a few attempts, so Ive ordered a new mono laser printer. Just before throwing this one out I boiled the kettle made a coffee,took out the cartridges and poured the remaining boiling water directly into the print head as an act of cruelty and revenge for the wasted hours Ive given it. Tipped out some very colourful water and then printed a soggy but otherwise perfect test page!! Thank you for inspiring me

[@kevykanga]

Thanks to your comment mine is working again. Tried using water and paper towels with no luck. Then used methylated spirits and poured boiling water over it and it's working again!

[@Jablicek]

A combination of the "Clean printhead" routine with using the damp paper towel and running the printhead over it, and another round of "Clean Printhead" worked a charm. Cheers, OP!

[@michaelbehan6705]

I dismantled the top of a HP Photosmart 5520 printer, guided by this helpful video. In reply to onealarmblaze, the display panel was difficult to remove. I looked for fixing screws behind the panel with a mirror, and saw none. So I prised the panel off with two screwdrivers, with loud cracking noises, but none of the clips were damaged. The clips were different from the 5510 in the video.In response to J-Knight59, I presume that the 5514, being an in between model number, is similar.Thanks Marto.

[@S_RaccoonPotatoWizard]

You sir! Are quite amazing. For others using a hp photosmart 6520 this video can be used as well besides 1) there is no hidden T10 under the sticker, instead a visible clip on the front inside 2) the front panel does not use the same clips. I kept mine attached to the top main plate that is removed by the multiple T10. Hope that helps!

[@annettedigiamberardino1817]

it worked!!! I cleaned it several times... really soaked the top through to a skinny folded dry paper towel underneath... rubbed the tray across the under towel as well... kept doing a print quality test after each good soaking from the top, pressing the warm water through the printer head. Definitely be sure to unplug! Thanks for the tip and good instructions. I was going to through my printer from the roof and perhaps follow with myself!! ;)

[@SimonLYW]

Thank you for the tips, the first method worked for me. It didn’t work the first time, but repeated it 3 times total and my 5510 is all up and running again.

[@Ron77A]

Very grateful to you for posting this video. I had to go through the whole process of taking it apart and was aided greatly by the detailed pictures. When I got to the print heads they were badly gummed up and I could see why it was no longer printing. After a thorough cleaning and reassembly the machine prints fine. Many thanks again, this saved me the expense of going out an buying a new printer (at least for now).

[@chrysteljan]

Thanks, this worked for me. however, I only used warm paper towel to clean the bottom. I did it over and over and over again until I see very little black smudges on the wet paper towel at the bottom. Afterwards, I dried the inside of the printer using a hairdryer. Looking for a torx screwdriver was way more work for me than just cleaning with the paper towel. Thanks!!

[@morrieD]

thanks for your tip about cleaning the bottom of the printer head over and over until the black smudges were almost gone, before closing the printer, that worked for me! the black printing head must have been very very dirty.

[@johnbcanberra]

Thanks for this Marto. I have just gone through the steps as set out in your video for my HP 5520. It was very helpful. I'd like to mention a couple of things for others thinking of going through the process. First, unclipping the LED display was not as easy as portrayed in the video. In fact, I wasn't able to unclip it because I could not persuade the centre clip to release. Rather than risk breaking the unit, I decided to try to remove the print head without removing the last two screws. Because the upper part of the printer housing is reasonably flexible, I found I was able to prop it open just enough to access the print head and remove it. Reattaching the cables later was tricky, but not impossible. As for cleaning the print head, I found the procedure called for perseverance and repetition. I note that a number of people have reported that their printer was still not working after they'd followed the procedure. In my case I found that it had to repeat the cleaning procedure a few times to eventually remove all of the encrusted ink. I found the help video for the HP6500 printer (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z17PnIhrmKuqf6M) helpful and I adapted aspects of the cleaning process described there (please note, this video suggests standing the print head in 5cm - about 2 inches - of hot demineralised water. This can't be right, I think they really mean about 5mm). Anyway, to cut a long story short, I managed to get the black ink flowing again (it wasn't working at all at the start of the process). It's not perfect, but I'm hoping it will improve. Hope that helps. Finally, I see a couple of people saying that once their unit was reassembled they experienced a carriage jam - care needs to be taken when reassembling the printer to position the plastic strip properly. Watch Marto's video closely to observe where it must be positioned.

[@xuangu2789]

Thanks for Marto and thanks for johnbcanberra! I just rescued my printer! I repeated the first step in the video for several times but it didn't work. So I did the second step in the video. Unfortunately, it didn't work either. But I didn't want to give up my printer so I did something else. Anyway, things won't go worse. I folded a piece of paper towel and put the thick paper towel in the bottom of a container like in the video. Then I poured about 5cm of boiled water into the container. After that, I put the printhead on the paper tower gently and this won't press the paper towel. Then I pressed down the printhead fast and heavily and thick paper towel was pressed flat. My black printhead was blocked and colored printhead was not. After several times of press down, I saw water was extruded from the upper filter of colored printhead but no water goed out of the filter of black printhead. I repeated this for so many times. I changed the water for several times because it became cold. When I saw water goed out of the filter of black printhead, I thought I succeeded. I dried and replaced the printhead without screws back and printed some test pages. Only the first page had black ink so it failed. I thought it might because only few dry ink dissolved in water. So I took the printhead out and repeated what I had done. But this time I used alcohol instead of hot water because I didn't have isopropyl alcohol. (I did this with my windows opened because I thought a lot of alcohol was not good to health.) After some times of press down, I replaced the printhead back and had a test. The test failed so I repeated these again. This time with boiled water. Finally, I saw a lot of water goed up from the filter of the black printhead when I pressed down the printhead and water goed down into the filter fastly and easily when I picked up the printhead. I thought I succeeded because water goed down easily meant ink could go down easily too. So I dried the printhead and replaced it to the printer. IT WORKED!!! I SUCCEEDED!!! I RESCUED MY PRINTER AND I SAVED MONEY!!! Thanks for the video uploaded 7 years ago! Thanks for the comment added 5 years ago!

[@asalv60]

This worked for me. Before cleaning, the print head report page showed no black ink at all. I followed the instructions from this video. I also used a straw and blew through the black print head. The report then showed black ink but with white horizontal lines through it. I repeated the cleaning process a 2nd time. The printer is now working perfectly. Thanks!

[@phuturephunk]

I was scared to take these kind of steps and then I found this video. Thanks for this, the first technique took a lot of gunk off of the print heads both top and bottom. It didn't solve the problem at first. I think the thing was just too inactive for too long a time. I ended up having to take a medicine dropper bottle full of alcohol and force the alcohol into each of the print head reservoirs a couple of times to clear it fully. Broke up all the dried pigment nice and quickly onto the paper towel I put underneath the carriage. One power cycle later and my machine is working fine now. Again, thanks so much for the tips. They worked great.

[@reiniweigel3070]

After doing the whole lot it's working again! Water alone wasn't enough and I just rinsed the print head off under warm water till no more ink came out. Looks like the 'printhead cleaning fluid' is key to getting it working again. i didn't have any, so tried for hours with water and dishwashing liquid, but that just wasn't enough.Thanks loads for this video!!

[@Steedy1982]

Just did your paper towel trick and now perfect prints again! Thank you!!

[@ProcyonAlpha]

Worked perfectly on my 5510 that wasn't printing black despite having a full black cartridge, thanks mate!

[@geoffb2012]

Top video instructions. The wet paper towel worked a treat and has saved me adding my printer to landfill.

[@marniepillsbury1118]

Thus was a terrific which helped me clean my print head--the black now works. Thank you Marto!

[@garthholman9896]

Thanks for the video. I like your procedure used to clean the Photosmart 5510. My only suggestion is that very warm water used with the syringe works much better than alcohol.

[@boyceswanson7069]

Thank you very much! I have spent hours on tutorials trying to find an answer. Your video fixed my problem in 5 minutes.

[@ptmaaazx7]

HI Marto, just wanted to write and let you know your advice and video fixed my printer. Cleaned the print head as you demonstrated after three runs of the print head cleaning the print quality was as good as new. Thank you! Tchuss! Herr Marto

[@DeezilOyl]

Very helpful - have tried tools three times and not working yet. Will now try tissues. Brilliant video - thank you

[@johnnyc7680]

Thanks for posting this video. I followed it exactly and the printer is still not printing black. I'm left to believe that this is a firmware/software problem that HP has failed to acknowledge or left alone so people buy more printers (as has been alluded to on other discussion forums). The theory is that the most recent low ink warning never reset when you install a new cartridge and it just assumes that the cartridge is still missing. Too bad, this printer has worked pretty well for a few years now.

[@mzkatzeyz5848]

+johnnyc7680 Yep, I did this whole process too. I took it all apart and the black ink is still not printing. I'm looking for a new cheap disposable printer.

[@adrinem4513]

johnnyc7680 I just did the same & it won't print black. I had replaced all my ink cartridges just before the black stopped printing. It recognizes that all the cartridges are full. It prints color but no black. 😠

[@kevykanga]

Thanks a lot! The hp help pages didn't work for me, but after watching your video I cleaned my printer out using methylated spirits, boiling water and paper towels and it's back in business!!!

[@morrieD]

Thank you so much! My out of warranty HP 5520, with new XL cartridges in, suddenly wouldn't print black at all. Thanks to your clear video and comments from many below (esp +chrystel torres below, to clean the bottom of the printer head over and over until nearly no black ink shows on the paper towel, before closing the printer and testing), I now have a working printer again!

[@schouten2]

We just successfully cleaned our printhead, just like you demonstrated. It worked perfectly and we are very happy. Thanks!

[@marto8385]

schouten2 You're welcome! I'm glad I could help.

[@BaukeP]

Have tried this and found your instructions very useful. Stil haven't been able to fix the problem with the black ink, so I'll give it one more try and hope it will start working again.

[@BaukeP]

I'm still encounterincg exactly the same as you described. Tried cleanin, new cartridge, and still no luck... I'll keep you posted!

[@leef8777]

I followed the steps in this video. Still no black. Ordered a new print-head for under $7 and replaced it. Unfortunately I did not have the same luck as Andrew Macmichael below. I keep getting an error message. After cleaning the old print-head and before the new one came in, I bought a Canon. I just hate throwing out a piece of equipment if it can be fixed at a reasonable price. Appreciate your help.

[@bargeryp]

Followed your instructions on removing the print head, it took a large number of washes with warm soap water, to remove all the black ink that had dried up in the head, but once I could get the warm water with a little soap to flow through from the cartridge side to the print head, the printer is now printing like new, thanks for the the video;-) ++++

[@celiko4099]

Still a great video ! Thought I would have to put my priced posession to rest. Found this and was soo shocked that it is that easy. Had two more techrefined friends look at it with no hope. A late night ambition got me to save my printer.

[@luciakoulouris4374]

Dude you are a legend !!!! I was about to throw mine away but after following your tutorial it works perfectly .... thank you 👍👍

[@rst9915]

The Video was extremely helpful, since the official hp page only describes how to clean the head when you have a removeable head. In my hp office jet 4620 this is not the case, so I had to remove the plastic cover, too. Only with the 4620, the screws are somewhat different. After removing the easily visible screws, as described, you have to remove the screw, that is accessible from UNDERNEATH the display, then remove the display cover by loosening the three clips that are accesible from the top, with a screwdriver. You then have to pull the display cover to the right and take it out. After disconnecting the flat cable, there is another small connector on the left, that has to be taken out. Now it is possible to take off the whole plastic cover and proceed as described. Thanks!

[@melvinbeli1]

This is a super helpful video! I'm going to try these tips and hopefully my printer will be printer not spitting out blank pages. I've been researching other printers to buy so maybe I won't have to do that!

[@lythsian]

This worked a treat, dissecting my printer. I was getting ready to turf it. Bloody Brilliant. Now can you give me any tips about how to cook dinner without getting up from my desk so I can keep watching QI clips?

[@lythsian]

+lythsian Actually it's only lasted about 2 weeks and it's gone again. I've done everything under the sun and nothing works. This thing is bin material. Bring on Epson.

[@Love2BGinger]

THANK YOU THANK YOu THANK YOU!!! My hands are black from ink, it took me hours without any results, but finally cause of you I have black ink again!!!

[@peternyberg9127]

Thank you very much for a most informative instruction on how to clean the printhead. You saved my day! Thanks again.

[@lydsmuxic]

Awesome - I had to clean the print heads twice with the water and also used the clean cartridge option on the printer several times before it started printing properly again. Many thanks.

[@Lizegc]

This seems to have helped a lot. I did not venture into taking the printer apart, but at soaking and cleaning the screens seems to have given us some black print again, just doesn't seem to be as dark as it use to be.

[@tomkennedy8617]

Thanks Marto. Black and Cyano wouldn't print. Cleaning in the printer didn't work, and finally needed soaking of the head overnight in water to which I added some detergent. All colors work now. Btw, mine is a 5520, and they seem identical.

[@bahamut724]

I was about to throw my printer away until I saw your video. You just gave my HP 5510 another lease on life.

[@Withajay]

Great video! Very straightforward and easy-to-follow. Nice work and thank you!!!

[@JD-nm7fm]

Great that you where able to find the 3 hidden screws! HP goes to a lot of trouble to hid them.

[@carbonfibre5528]

An excellent video, thank you. Helping me with a problem slightly past what is happening here. My carriage seems to jam on the sponge unit(item that print head rests on at the right side of printer). Stripped the printer down and trying to figure out why the sponge unit doesn't slide back out of the way!

[@John-jc3ty]

i dont usually thank vids but damn man, this one was actually helpful

[@kirkbates4374]

Thank you so much, especially for the end part where it still didn't work with colours. The second method didn't work for me to start with but I was encouraged to try again and now it's fine. I have an ink filling kit - and used the syringe to gently squirt about 3cc of cleaning fluid into the ink supply port - refilling from what did not go through and squirting again - 'manual' pressure washer style - not sure if this helped or not - but gave me something to do while waiting for the head to rest on the paper towel.

[@jeancayer4874]

it worked for me; from noting printed in black to about 75% after 4 repeats of the easy procedure. Big thanks, I was about to buy another printer. To be repeated few times more ...

[@jazzper_nl]

Read a lot of fora and videos like this to no avail. In the end I focused on placing the cartridges again. After some trials the printer reinitialized and continued working. Now I have a clean printer, print head AND working printer (with 3rd party cartridges).

[@kimfrivold4772]

That was SO helpful Thank you!!! I got by printer fixed before I had to go to the last solution on the video, taking the parts away. very greatful.

[@therciahodge6467]

Thank you so much, I was about to Replace the entire unit. The wet paper towel worked!

[@snowman0008]

Thank you for this tutorial. I had to go all the way to printhead removal, but now it prints like new :)

[@raalemsalala4261]

Really thank you , I was about to buy a new one but after watching ur video I could fix my printer , it was so helpful 😃

[@Soulborrower]

Dude took me like an hour to find out the issue, this video was perfect, thanks!

[@racingmason]

Something I noticed on my 5514 is the space on the right side where the print heads park,there is a small foam pad on the bottom.This gets built up with semi dried ink,and in my case,was so bad the print heads were actually sitting in it when parked.You can use a screwdriver or other flat object to scrape up the built up ink,and then soak up as much ink as you can with a paper towel.Hope this helps.

[@cabmd64]

Thanks for this. It definitely helped me some - I know have at least SOMEthing printing vs. the blank page I was getting. But now I can get all the colors except black. I'll keep trying the first 2 steps a few more times and see if I don't eventually get it. (Not willing to go through step 3).

[@Kwatch]

unbelievable. my ten year old hp c5100 printer never gave me any issues until recently, the black was showing streaks and lines dissappearing. i tried cleaning print head option on the software which more or less didn't work, then i printed 15 pages of black large bold text because i thought making black print would get the ink flowing, but it actually made things even worse and then i wasn't getting any black prints at all. All rest of the color were perfect on test print, just the black was just streaks, blanks and just not printing. i tried wetting towel paper with warm water and places it under the print head like you shown. rested the head over it less than 10secs and moved the head left and right hoping it would touch the wet towel paper. the paper towel got smears of black,colors over it. then i did print of the test page and large bold black text again it will was like brand new. i was blown away because i thought it was the end of my long beloved printer, it has been there for all my last minute and large print job needs, i mean this thing has been there for me in time of need and lasted me longer than any relationship in my life and i would be very hurt if it stopped working. i also saw instruction video directly on hp website in which the instructions were to do print head cleaning on the software and if that doesn't work, take it to your nearing hp center, why cant they give us these kinds of solutions in the first place. thanks, aloha, cheers mate!

[@TOUMBAAAA]

amazing, our printer(4625) is printing again with a simple cleaning,did not need to remove printhead !thnx a lot!

[@ronalddebruin9991]

Hello Marto, thanks for a great video. The idea to use a paper towel with warm water I used already. But now the display is constant showing paper jam. Are you able to help, please. Otherwise I must bay a new one.

[@rayfischer221]

hey, thanks for your video which was very clear, I have solved my problem of the black not printing.

[@Crainolds]

Marto, what you dont cover in your Video is the cleaning of the Printer Head "Home". The place where the Printer head Returns once shutting down the Printer.My Printer had a lot of old ink gunk there, which I had to scrape away. Only then did it print black again.Furthermore, you can clean the rubber fingers in that area as well. I think these are what perform the "Clean Printer Head" function....

[@ElizabethKling]

Mine had puddles of ink. I wasn't sure about cleaning the fingers or rollers. Now I wish I had. The ink carriage isn't moving correctly so I still don't know if it will print from my thorough cleaning of the print head and so/so job on that under area. Craig, I'm assuming you had to take that long front plate out, too, to get to that under area that builds up with ink? I had a small loose piece come out. Do you know if that goes in the horizontal crevice of the plate? That's where I put it, sharing the screw.

[@Crainolds]

+Elizabeth Kling i actually simply cleaned that area when the printer was all assembled. With some paper towels.... just to get that excess ink away...

[@leshoy1186]

thank you sir, it worked perfectly, i followed your instructions using brandy : ) i have had this printer 7 years

[@olivermcdermott2886]

This is working. Thanks for showing. I had to clean the printhead more than one time, but I managed to clean it with out taking the printer apart :-)

[@harrietconner9570]

Didn't work for me, but I learned a lot in the process. Now I have to go purchase another blasted printer.

[@RogiervanKuijk]

After putting the wet kitchen paper underneath and one on top for cleaning, I got black ink on the paper again! Great!

[@RolandGesthuizen]

Wonderful to have such a clear and easy to follow tutorial. Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to make and share Marto.

[@TA-sz7bk]

Didn’t work for me sadly, there is an ink leak in the bottom right corner inside the printer, but I have no clue on how to solve it. - I tried multiple times

[@samyoe]

I have the exact same issue! Colours work but black is leaking on right hand side.

[@samyoe]

There's a repair vid - HP Photosmart 5510/5520 Won't Print Black • Purge Unit Repair & Printer Refurbish

[@horsth9566]

Great video! Clear and calm comments. Excellent. Thank you!

[@CommanderCool76]

Thanks for the video. Tried exactly what you said. The colors work like it was brand new but still no black.

[@vivianagreco2725]

Hi Thank you for the video I've substituted the printhead and put new cartridges With colors any proplem but the strange thing is that it doesn't print black What can I do? :-) regards Viviana

[@salpanahi]

I tot down my Deskjet 3520 and removed the printer head just like you. I notice that there are 4 white tubes in the right top corner of the printer that are full of air and some ink. What are those tubes? Do I need to remove the air from them? Can't imagine that those tubes are carrying ink since the inks sit on the print head directly while printing directly.

[@dsteward85]

I was just about to trash mine until I saw your video. Now I can finish printing out my shipping labels for some ebay items I sold. Thanks a lot! Also, I would of never known there was an extra screw under the sticker. Very helpful. Fingers crossed it doesnt happen again soon.

[@tonystark6263]

hahaha the same thing happened to me today printing eBay labels I'm looking into an Epson eco tank once this printer gives out

[@NicoloPerricone]

Thanks a lot Marto: your second method worked fine. I'm overly grateful. Cheers, np

[@asalv60]

Can you tell us the third party cartridges and ink you are using? I take it you have had good luck with them? Thanks

[@ronalddebruin9991]

Hello Marto Again. Problem solved it was the sensor ribbon. it was not between the print head sensor. printer still not printing black What I did was washing the print head again, and again, and again a till all paint was rinsed out that toke two days and a roll off paper towel, and now it is printing black By the way, how prevent that the cartridge is getting empty without using?? Well anyway thanks for a very use full film I can recommend it .

[@musicworks9607]

Remove the display first. It's much easier with the cover held in place: then release the top cover stay (back right) by pulling it towards you. Control the lid which will go all the way back. Lastly remove the black torx screws. When removing the print head take note of the ribbon which slides between two guides on the printhead.

[@ElizabethKling]

Thanks for the great video! You made the disassembly and the printer head cleaning fairly easy. However, after reassembling, it keeps telling me I have a printer carriage jam. Any ideas on what I didn't do correctly? How do we know if the ribbons are put in the head in the right direction? I have checked that sensor strip and it seems to be in the right place.

[@aliyalm6689]

Same problem I experienced, solution is to clean printer with compressed air or hair drier! in order to clean sensors around trays, I find this solution very hardly in forums, I did and worked perfect but after that black ink problem was same as before

[@iWh15tl3]

Thank you Jesus! my printer works! thanks for the tip!

[@brandonrapp4857]

After reassembling the printer after cleaning the print head I get a "Clear carriage jam" error even though everything looks fine. I must have messed up when putting the print head back in?

[@theoriginalsmidge]

I'm stuck trying to get that dang hinge off. There's a very small metal 'lip' holding it on. Any tips?

[@kareycoleman8270]

Followed your instructions....amazing! But now I get a message that the ink cat ridge access door is open when everything is closed and it won't print...

[@cherylbricker6362]

Well... thanks for the info, however it did work in my case. Cleaned it 3 times, did all that other head cleaner bla-de-blah. I am NOT the kind of person to do all that dissembling, so that won't get tested for accuracy. But I do appreciate the tutorial and feel like I have done all I am capable of doing before I chuck this from the highest peak (actually, I'm an avid recycler) and move onto another piece of crap electronics that will become problematic in the all too near future.

[@jeffternes4525]

Thanks - disassembled and then cleaned the truly filthy print head and reassembled per instructions ( I .think) but keep getting an error message "INK CARTRIDG ACCESS DOOR IS OPEN". Repeated the reassembly several times with no luck. (and YES, I did close the door!) Any advice would be appreciated..

[@lorenaamigo3753]

Hello, thanks for your video. We followed your steps but now the printer is telling us there is a paper jam just when we switch it on. I noticed the printerhead does not stay at the same position as it should whenever you opened the door. Do you know what could be the problem now? Is there anything we connected wrongly? Thanks

[@marto8385]

Lorena Amigo Check if the flatcables to the printhead have a good connection (at 6:04 of the video). Also the plastic strip at 6:50 needs to sit in the black plastic part as shown (this is an essential part for the printhead movement).

[@lorenaamigo3753]

Marto Hello, you were right.I assembled it again correctly this time (the plastic strip was not correctly sitting in the reader). My printer is back to normal and little by little the black ink is coming back! Thanks so much

[@piotrkwapien947]

Cherrs bro ! Without you I would not cleaned my printer.

[@voloacademyofmusic]

Awesome tutorial! Thank you!!! I had to run my Cleaning Tool a few times, but that did it! :D

[@BR-su8pm]

Thanks. Did all this but once connected I can hear it is on but the display does not come on. What did I plug in wrong?