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Epson ECO TANK "inkpad" requires replacing. How to?

Epson uses an "inkpad" to clear its printer (jets?) before printing. Eventually the amount of ink deposited in this blotter-type system fills and must be replaced. Unfortunately it seems as if replacing the inkpad is very messy and difficult. Our printer is used so frequently that the inkpad needs to be replaced every six months.

Epson charges enough to make replacing the entire unit a (sadly) reasonable option. Your opinion? Are HP printers a better option since both use 4800 dpi printing? (The HP cartridges are expensive - sigh.)

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Good question but no "real" answer.

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I love the eco tank and the only color that leaks is the black ink. Although I have this problem, this printer had printed over 27,000 copies before it started leaking. I wish there was an answer to this

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Is there any way we can change the inkpad?

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All of the 2010+ models are pretty much the same - flip the printer over to find the second biggest part other then the power supply, remove the nearby screw (usually 1) and use a screwdriver to release the pad from the chassis. Install the new one and then you have to reset the WIC counter. Hint: If there’s an IEC lead, move to the next possible part.

The problem with these EcoTank machines is that you need to be careful not to spill or cross contaminate the system, which isn’t a problem with the standard models. Find it, remove the screw and only lift it up as needed - no more than that. Might be safer to manufacture a makeshift lift to remove the pad on these with a metal bar basket and a Dremel, but you want to make sure it’s a little larger than the printer.

THE problem is reset support. I know pretty much all of the cart based ones have a tool and key provider available (or a potential key combo, like the R200/R280/C88), but I don’t know how widespread these 3rd party tools (or leaked copies of the EPSON Adjustment program) are, yet. While the old models have a 3rd party reset option (or the Epson Adjustment program and key generation algorithm is leaked and decoded, but this is primarily 10+ year old grey cart printers and Epson no longer cares), the tools and a keygen hasn’t leaked for the black cart models yet, or will never leak especially if Epson uses cloud based tools like Canon does on some of the PRO 100 models, and likely more of of their newer printers. Yours was somewhat recently added to WIC Reset Utility (3rd party), but most of the EcoTank models aren’t resettable yet. They aren’t as common, and people have not been interested in hacking them for it (yet).

With the modern Epsons, you usually need a 3rd party tool that emulates the Epson tools with most of these UNLESS the Epson tool and a keygen is leaked, assuming it isn’t cloud based. I usually recommend WIC Reset Utility due to the fact there are simply more printers on their list then leaked Epson internal tools which are model specific - unless I know what to point to. If you can’t reset, do NOT replace the pad - it’s a waste of time and money.

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I have an Epson ET4550.

I suppose that you don't really mean to flip the printer over. It would spill ink everywhere, right? Would it be useful to try to work in it as when doing a car's oil change? I mean to support the unit high enough to have space to work under it.

Now, you talk about a WIC counter. What is that? What does WIC mean? Also, what is an EIC lead that you mention?

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@jogar To answer the first question yes - lift it up enough to work on it. WIC is short for Waste Ink Count.

IEC is for the power cord.

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Ok. Thank you.

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Just to note that the WICReset app/utility is compatible with the ET-4550 and can reset the waste ink counters.

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@octoinkjet The newer ones have not been added to WIC at the same rate so I was not aware.

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I am a realtor who had used HP printers for over 10 years when my $300 HP crashed and burned because I dared use generic ink. That was 5 years ago when I was using at least $30/month in ink. So I tried a Brother; waste of money. Then I tried an Epson WF 2650; it was ok. In comes my EPSON Eco tank 2550—cheapest one out there when I bought 4 years ago.

4 years later I estimate that I have spent about $60-$90/ YR Yes YEAR and while HP has the best print quality, my friends could not really tell the difference when I showed them print copies and asked an HP user.

I used draft on HP because of the ink cost for everyday printing. Epson draft print stinks but regular is fine and at this cost who cares? One negative cannot print on clear labels; only white. Other than that no cons other than speed of print which I have adjusted to. HP prints at a better speed.

I LOVE< LOVE< LOVE my EcoTank and my ink waste pad just filled up so I may spring for a new Eco Tank and keep this one as a backup.

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I was looking for a "how to" replace the pads. Not a testimonial as to how great they are.

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Keep Looking....

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You could look for the Web and try to find a "reseter" specific for your Printer, so you can reset the ink pads counter, of course you must change the pad When they be really full of ink. You coulf find some similar material to the ink pad onto fabric places /stores.

About buy an Epson o HP printer in my experience is much, much better a HP printer, they do not bother you with plugged cartridges or injectors as well you could use very heavie paper or wrinkle paper and HP just work. If you may look for "Eco tanks" or similar It is tanks of ink outside the printer (60 ml of ink -average)and you could refill them http://www8.hp.com/co/es/deskjet-gt/over...)

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I’ve just managed to remove and clean the ink pads on my relatively new Epson ET-4700. You take a screw out of the back right corner and remove the corner panel. Then remove an identical screw inside that secures a plastic tank which slides out with a little wrestling. Five very messy pads to rinse ink out of, then dry them and replace. Wish I could figure out how to open the rest of the printer and mop up ink that’s been smudging paper. No “Counter needs resetting” message yet. Just had to “power clean” too many times and the print got very messy. Hope this fixes it.

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