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Gavin · Sep 13, 2001, 05:24 AM

Hi,
I have an epson 740. For some reason it just loves to smear black ink across the rollers and leave wide black tracks down the page. It doesn't do it all the time, just when I'm in a hurry to print something important. The next day it will print beautifully. I don't print things often but I do print a wide range of things: draft text on cheap paper, photos on good paper, etc. I can't spot a pattern.

Cleaning the rollers helps but it just puts it back on. Is it broken and leaking or is there something I can tweak?

Anybody seen this or have any ideas?

Thanks

Paco Loco · Sep 13, 2001, 08:20 AM

I have exactly the same problem with the same model...anyone got any ideas?

meetingpeopleiseasy · Sep 15, 2001, 02:49 AM

This happened with mine also, then it started bangin' into the sides of the printer case walls. So I shook it for a 880. Good luck.

Ca$hs Unemployed Mother · Sep 16, 2001, 02:37 AM

My Friend had so many repeated problems with his 740 that he actually tossed the whole thing in the garbage and bought a HP which he loves.

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Sep 17, 2001, 09:38 AM

I had this problem with a Stylus 900. Drove me crazy, until I tried the following which cleared it right up:
http://home.att.net/~arwomack01/#blobsofink

Be careful using paper with a high lint content which is the immediate cause of this problem. That or keep your cat shedding it's fur- if you have one- away from the printer!

Gavin · Sep 20, 2001, 04:40 AM

I was thinking of getting a photo 780 - the print quality is great and the price sure is right but epsons just chug ink and this @#$#!! smearing has me considering an HP.

I hear HP's are nice and stable, but I haven't seen one print with the image quality of an epson photo.
Any recommendations?

Gavin · Sep 20, 2001, 05:03 AM

to CRASH HARDDRIVE:

thanks for the link. lots of good info!