Service life has ended on my epson stylus r320 photo printer

Midge Burton

• 6 Answers
• Posted on Jul 01, 2008

SOURCE: epson stylus photo r320 ink pad relacement

Here's 3 things you can do to get around this...depending if your printer is new and still under warranty or not (do NOT void your warranty!).

I have used all 3, but the third one was a lifesaver (AND money-saver!). About once a year I have to reset the printer using #2, but other than that....#3 is the greatest!!!

1. Try resetting it by, unplugging the power cord then while holding down the POWER STOP and MAINTENANCE buttons simultaneously while replugging the power cord caused a reset to zero on the counter. You will still have to replace the pads or redirect the waste ink tube to a receptacle on the outside of the printer, hope this helps?

2. If you go to inkjetprinterhelp.us there you will find the ssc service utility. Once you open the page click on the service utility and then choose the english version unless you can spk russian.If you then scroll to the bottom of the page and install the prog. Once you have installed the prog you will get the ssc utility logo in your bottom tray. Right click the icon and then select reset protection counter from the protection counter drop down. Once you have done this restart your computer and this should reset the system.

3. INSTALL AN EXTERNAL WASTE TANK and forget all about those gunky ink pads forever!

On the left rear of these printers is a small trapdoor held by a single screw.

Remove it, look inside (down and to your left) and you'll see the waste ink tube.

The tube is free at one end, and with a suitably curved piece of wire you can hook it and wangle the end out through the opening (you may dislodge a small piece of plastic in the process -- just put it back where it was, it's only a vibration damper.) I found the tube to be rather short....so I added an extension since I do not have room directly behind my printer for a container. I used the tubing you use with oxygen tanks or fish tank bubblers. They also make a little plastic connector so you can join the two together.

At this point, you're almost there.

All you need now is a suitable container for the waste ink, and I drilled a small hole in the trapdoor cover so you can put it back on without pinching the tube (or you could just leave it off.)

The container is a small square one with a snap-on lid, approx. 60mm square and holding about 150ml -- they're sold in sets of three for a few cents and are for making ice-blocks etc. in your freezer. Any small container will work.

Make a hole in the lid (slightly larger than the tube to let air escape) insert the tube and forget about the internal pads forever.

I've had mine in place for almost 2 yrs now and it works like a charm. If you need photos, let me know and I have a couple I can send you.

SOURCE: service life has ended on my epson stylus r320 photo printer

Thanks for your selflessness Steve H. describing the RESET procedure for the Epson R300 by simutaneouly depressing the POWER, STOP and MAINTENANCE switches.

I checked with Epson, via telephone, and they recommended going to an authorized dealer for ink pad replacement (approximately $100) or buy a new printer ( $150 - $250).

After completing your suggested RESET procedure successfully - I went a step further and mopped up the excess ink that was evident on the 'black ink pad' which was saturated with black ink. I used Kleenex which seemed to mop up the excess BLACK ink nicely, and continued this mopping procedure until there was no evidence of black ink on the Kleenex. There was very little evidence of spilled ink on the color pads.

Time alone will tell. So thanks again Steve - you saved me $100 to $200.

Oh yeah! I LOVE this printer.