<p>I'm a retired Epson service agent, though they still get me in to service the difficult printers from time to time, I have a few containers of the G-26 lubricant on hand, it's marvelous for those sliders on CD-Players as well.<br>
Just a scary story about using the wrong lubricant or namely WD-40 (which we call "<strong>Jam in a can</strong> "), since once it evaporates it leaves a sticky, tacky gunk that jams up almost any movement it is applied to.<br>
I was servicing cash registers for TEC and a client thought he would save money by lubricating the fine hammers on the printer himself. As to call us in cost him around $80 (Australian) for the anual visit and $10 per drop of lubricant. As these hammers were fine and needed a very expensive Molykote watchmakers lubricant. Which we used very sparingly, like about 4 drops would keep his hammers lubricated for the year.<br>
This lubricant also doesn't collect dust like most of the others, which is very important when working with paper.<br>
So the anual service would likely cost him $120.<br>
He called us in a frantic state about 5 days later saying his cash-register will not print. On first look, I noticed that none of the hammers were moving and there was a thick yellowish glue between them, a bit like the consistency of half dried honey. So I asked him what it was and he confessed and showed me the can of WD-40.<br>
I then told him that the only thing we could do in the short term was to completely wash the hammers down (first we used alcohol and if that fails, white spirit) and then reapply the watchmakers lubricant, and usually it requires more than just the usual top-up. Costing him around $300.<br>
Failing this we would have to order him a complete printer unit of $560 plus $80 install fee.<br>
The cleanup worked fine and he never, ever complained about our annual fee again.<br>
What grease/lubricant for Epson 1280?
in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing
Posted
<p>I'm a retired Epson service agent, though they still get me in to service the difficult printers from time to time, I have a few containers of the G-26 lubricant on hand, it's marvelous for those sliders on CD-Players as well.<br>
Just a scary story about using the wrong lubricant or namely WD-40 (which we call "<strong>Jam in a can</strong> "), since once it evaporates it leaves a sticky, tacky gunk that jams up almost any movement it is applied to.<br>
I was servicing cash registers for TEC and a client thought he would save money by lubricating the fine hammers on the printer himself. As to call us in cost him around $80 (Australian) for the anual visit and $10 per drop of lubricant. As these hammers were fine and needed a very expensive Molykote watchmakers lubricant. Which we used very sparingly, like about 4 drops would keep his hammers lubricated for the year.<br>
This lubricant also doesn't collect dust like most of the others, which is very important when working with paper.<br>
So the anual service would likely cost him $120.<br>
He called us in a frantic state about 5 days later saying his cash-register will not print. On first look, I noticed that none of the hammers were moving and there was a thick yellowish glue between them, a bit like the consistency of half dried honey. So I asked him what it was and he confessed and showed me the can of WD-40.<br>
I then told him that the only thing we could do in the short term was to completely wash the hammers down (first we used alcohol and if that fails, white spirit) and then reapply the watchmakers lubricant, and usually it requires more than just the usual top-up. Costing him around $300.<br>
Failing this we would have to order him a complete printer unit of $560 plus $80 install fee.<br>
The cleanup worked fine and he never, ever complained about our annual fee again.<br>
Cheers,</p>