Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
13
Time Required
30 minutes - 2 hours
Sections
1
- How to Unclog Brother Inkjet Print head Nozzles
- 13 steps
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BackBrother MFC-6490CW Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer
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What you need
Step 1
Getting Started
- Tape the top part of the printer and scanner together
- *note : I started with the paper trays already removed
Tape the top part of the printer and scanner together
*note : I started with the paper trays already removed
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Step 2
- Remove the 4 screw holding the front display panel.
- Lift the display panel
- Remove the blue connector and the ribbon cable gently
Remove the 4 screw holding the front display panel.
Lift the display panel
Remove the blue connector and the ribbon cable gently
Step 3
- Remove the 2 hinge screws on the back of printer
Remove the 2 hinge screws on the back of printer
Step 4
- Remove the support arm
- Press the tab to release the clips, then when it’s out gently pull towards you to release the back
Remove the support arm
Press the tab to release the clips, then when it’s out gently pull towards you to release the back
Step 5
- Remove the cover on the right side exposing the ribbon cable gently use the twizzers in the tabs to release it
- Unplug the ribbon cable and slid it out
- *note for reassembly: the ribbon cable placement holders can be removed to make it easier to re-thread the ribbon cable by gently pushing down the tabs with the spudger
Remove the cover on the right side exposing the ribbon cable gently use the twizzers in the tabs to release it
Unplug the ribbon cable and slid it out
*note for reassembly: the ribbon cable placement holders can be removed to make it easier to re-thread the ribbon cable by gently pushing down the tabs with the spudger
Step 6
- Remove the Panel on the left side exposing the wiring connectors for the top of the printer
- After dissconecting the connectors remove the whole top of the printer and place it safely out of the way
Remove the Panel on the left side exposing the wiring connectors for the top of the printer
After dissconecting the connectors remove the whole top of the printer and place it safely out of the way
Step 7
- Remove the 15 screws to the cover
- Remove the left and right side covers
Remove the 15 screws to the cover
Remove the left and right side covers
Step 8
Remove the front corners by gently pulling upwards
- Remove the front corners by gently pulling upwards
- Open the back paper jam cover.
Remove the front corners by gently pulling upwards
Open the back paper jam cover.
Step 9
Remove the Red conectors for the battery and speaker
- Lift off the cover and put aside out of the way
Lift off the cover and put aside out of the way
Step 10
Release the clear print head guide wire
- Slide the clear print head guide wire off the tab on the right side
- *note: Put on gloves if you haven’t already. It can get messy.
Slide the clear print head guide wire off the tab on the right side
*note: Put on gloves if you haven’t already. It can get messy.
Step 11
Releasing the print head from the carriage
- Using a spudger, press down on the plastic housing of the park carriage that the print head rests on.
- Slide the print head to the left freeing it to move
Using a spudger, press down on the plastic housing of the park carriage that the print head rests on.
Slide the print head to the left freeing it to move
Step 12
Removing the print head from the rails
- Slide the print head left until it is at the end of the rail. You can feel it release (lift upwards when it aligns with the cut out notch)
- Push the print head unit towards the back of the device and lift the unit from the back rail
- Using the spudger, press the spring section of the white pulley
- Release the conveyor from the pulley while the spring is still compressed
- Remove the conveyor from the gear on the other side of the device
Slide the print head left until it is at the end of the rail. You can feel it release (lift upwards when it aligns with the cut out notch)
Push the print head unit towards the back of the device and lift the unit from the back rail
Using the spudger, press the spring section of the white pulley
Release the conveyor from the pulley while the spring is still compressed
Remove the conveyor from the gear on the other side of the device
Step 13
Print Head is now ready for cleaning
- How to clean with paper towel
- Tear a single sheet of paper towel in half. Fold the sheet in half several times until it is about 1/2 inch wide.
- Put a few drops of distilled water on top of the paper towel and lay it in the trough under the print head,. Move the print head over the towel and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. This will soften the ink on the print head.
- Move print head assembly back to its resting position. You will probably notice that the paper towel now has one big black blob of ink on it. (There is so much excess ink on the print head that all the colors are mixing to make black.)
- If you cannot clearly see individual colors, then dampen another spot on the paper towel and move the print head back over the newly dampened spot on the paper towel. Continue repeating this until you see all the individual colors.
- *note: when reassembling be certain to move the print head back to its resting position (the extreme right side above the park carriage)
How to clean with paper towel
Tear a single sheet of paper towel in half. Fold the sheet in half several times until it is about 1/2 inch wide.
Put a few drops of distilled water on top of the paper towel and lay it in the trough under the print head,. Move the print head over the towel and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. This will soften the ink on the print head.
Move print head assembly back to its resting position. You will probably notice that the paper towel now has one big black blob of ink on it. (There is so much excess ink on the print head that all the colors are mixing to make black.)
If you cannot clearly see individual colors, then dampen another spot on the paper towel and move the print head back over the newly dampened spot on the paper towel. Continue repeating this until you see all the individual colors.
*note: when reassembling be certain to move the print head back to its resting position (the extreme right side above the park carriage)
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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crystalbic
Member since: 08/22/2015
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Filipe Silva - Feb 1, 2017
Reply
Thanks for the guide. But I don’t think you need to tear apart the printer to do that, just start a print cycle and when the printhead moves, plug the printer off. then you can freely move the printhead and put the paper towel under it.
Kris Smith - Jun 30, 2018
Thank you! Thank you! I was getting no magenta ink at all - I tried this, took me 2 minutes and viola! It works perfectly now! Thank you!!!!!
Sergio Camano-Valencia - Sep 23, 2019
Patrik Der Ashodian - Sep 15, 2020
Hello Filipe,
I have a problem with my printer and I came across this page. I have a Brother MFC-240C printer.
How do I reach the printerhead to clean it? Do I need to take off the top cover to reach it?
Thank you for your help.
crystalbic - May 4, 2021
Thanks Filipe for the extra advice :) I had already tried the paper towel method on my printer it did not work for me my print head was damaged and I had to replace it. I could not find any strip downs of my Printer at the time of posting this tutorial so I thought it was more useful for others in the future going this route
