Printers (photoprinters not 3D) <advice required!>

[jonnymcenroe]

So I bought a used printer. This is the first mistake I guess.
Carried it up and down six flights and the wind just blew the top clean off!
This was the second error in what will no doubt be a catalog of errors in a lengthy and expensive project.

I'm a photographer. My friend was moving house and couldn't take the old printer with him.
Haven't sat at my desk in a long time and I'd like to make some home prints.
Machine is a large format Epson pro 4000 from some years ago.

This far I've managed to get a test print out of it (*insert photo here)
From my limited reading I've discovered it will need a fresh light magenta cartridge to enable self-cleaning.
This is the third mistake, carts cost a bomb. I only paid £40 for the unit!

If anyone out here has had experience reviving these behemoths and can help me diagnose things further or offer up some pearls of wisdom
Please let me know!

Jonny

 

[ajm]

I had the opportunity of a barely-used 3880 for nothing the other week; pricing up a full set of cartridges confirmed that I definitely don't need it!

 

[roberto]

I’m coming back to this thread even though it’s old, in case it helps someone else. I had an Epson Pro 3880 that seemed completely gone after sitting on a shelf for years. For me the solution was to replace all the main cartridges, not just one, because the cleaning system is quite sensitive. I tried several sources, but in the end I sorted it out quickly through Cartridge Save. They were the only ones where I found both originals and compatibles with a warranty, and they even helped me over the phone to identify exactly which codes I needed. It’s not the cheapest hobby, but I managed to bring the printer back to life and I’m still making portfolio prints with it.