[REQUEST] HP 8710 Printer Printhead Issue

[Appletax]

I've got a 91-year-old client that's still self-employed. He loves his older HP 8710 inkjet printer and would hate to lose it. It's currently not working. Here's the error message shown:



It appears that the printhead is broke. He also has two new printers - one HP, one Brother and is not a fan of them. He is willing to pay a premium price to get it fixed.

I tried using new Cyan and Yellow OEM cartridges. I tried cleaning the printhead by soaking it in hot distilled water, which I did 3x. I let it sit overnight with a fan blowing on it to get it dried up so it wouldn't short circuit the printer. I wrapped the cartridges in Saran wrap. Would that have dried it too much? It still does not work.

Got any tips to get this printhead working or should I get a replacement at this point? He prefers brand new OEM, which appears to be extremely expensive.

Here are some options I came across:

New OEM on Encompass

Used on eBay

 

[britechguy]

Honestly, this is a time where the very best thing you can do is tell the client that pursuing a repair makes no sense from any perspective. The part would likely cost in excess of 50% of what a new device would cost, and then you still have "old bones" for the rest of the device.

Get another, if he simply must have this model: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-officejet-pro-8710-all-in-one-printer-series/7902014
They're still available from multiple outlets.

It's also entirely possible that the problem is not with the print head itself. There was a time where I replaced these with at least some regularity, and I ceased doing so because as often as not it didn't solve the problem. Unlike many, I don't hate inkjet printers, but the only ones I'll recommend are those with ink tanks for each color, are refillable even if that means ARC tanks, and where the nozzles are a part of the print head itself (rather than part of a pop-in cartridge).

 

[Appletax]

Honestly, this is a time where the very best thing you can do is tell the client that pursuing a repair makes no sense from any perspective. The part would likely cost in excess of 50% of what a new device would cost, and then you still have "old bones" for the rest of the device.

Get another, if he simply must have this model: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-officejet-pro-8710-all-in-one-printer-series/7902014
They're still available from multiple outlets.

It's also entirely possible that the problem is not with the print head itself. There was a time where I replaced these with at least some regularity, and I ceased doing so because as often as not it didn't solve the problem. Unlike many, I don't hate inkjet printers, but the only ones I'll recommend are those with ink tanks for each color, are refillable even if that means ARC tanks, and where the nozzles are a part of the print head itself (rather than part of a pop-in cartridge).

Thank you. I know it's time to move on lol but he's an old timer set in his ways. I think he can easily afford it so he's not concerned about it. I found some new ones on eBay for $500+. I found a YT video showing that the printhead can be cleaned with a syringe and solution. The syringe connects to the ink port on the printhead and it pushes the solution through it. Maybe they are gunked up and just sitting the printhead in hot distilled water won't unclog that part. Which ink tank printers do you like?