Refill Instructions for HP 45 or 15 Black Cartridge

HP 51640A, HP 51645A, HP 51645G, and HP 51650A Cartridges. Also HP C6615A

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These cartridges are virtually identical and refill the same. The ink in these cartridges is retained because the cartridge develops a slight vacuum. These cartridges are sealed plastic boxes.

Step 1) Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate a spill.

Step 2) Turn the cartridge upside down.

Locate the rectangular copper printhead where the ink comes out.
Behind the printhead is a black plastic rectangular well.
Behind the rectangular well is a round black dimple in the center of the cartridge bottom.This round black dimple looks similar to a mold release mark from the plastic mold. In reality, this dimple is a small piece of black rubbery plastic which conceals the original fill hole of the cartridge!
Step 3) Remove the black dimple plug over the fill hole. You may need to scrape it off with a knife or screwdriver.

Step 4) Push the ball in the fill hole into the cartridge with the end of the allen wrench provided, or similar device. Forget about it - it stays inside and won't hurt anything..

HP_51645A_ball.jpg (8792 bytes) Step 5) Be sure to remove the protective snout from the syringe before attaching the needle. Inject 30 ml of the ink into the fill hole slowly. You may add an additional 5 ml if the cartridge will take it. It is best not to overfill. Leave a little bit of air space inside the cartridge.

WARNING: Be careful when you insert the needle through the hole in the cartridge. The inside of the cartridge is hollow, but it is lined with a foil material. If this material is punctured the cartridge is ruined. It will leak and there is no way to stop it. Therefore, keep the point of the needle away from the inside walls of the cartridge and out in the open airspace inside while you are injecting the ink.

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Step 6) Now you must seal the fill hole air tight. We supply a set screw and allen wrench for this with the ink kit. The set screw will self-tap and form an excellent plug which can be removed and re-installed each time you refill. Do not use a screw with a round or flat head! Only use a set screw so that this can be recessed below the surface of the cartridge.

51645A-screw-in.jpg (4494 bytes) You should squeeze and hold the cartridge just before installing the set screw in order to set up the vacuum. Make sure the seal is flush or just below the cartridge surface.

Step 7) After sealing, release the sides of the cartridge and squeeze again, twice. A couple of drops of ink should come out of the printhead.

Step 8) You might wish to set the cartridge over a paper towel for an hour as a drip precaution. Expect a few drips until the vacuum stabilizes. Before inserting the cartridge, blot off the hanging drop of ink with a paper towel.

Step 9) When inserting the cartridge, first tilt the cartridge so that the ball is caught above the set screw and doesn't roll into the area above the print head, where it can occasionally block off some ink flow.

Step 10) Immediately run the printhead cleaning software. (Go to the HP software and select "Services".)

To Clean the Printhead

Clean the printhead only if the cartridge doesn't print or prints in streaks.

Follow the directions in the printer manual.

Locate your printer software and select Printer Services. Then run the printhead cleaning software.

If that doesn't work, here's a quick and easy method to try next:

Turn on the hot water faucet and let the water get good and hot.
Stick just the copper printhead under the hot water for 3 to 5 seconds.
Remove the printhead and dry with a tissue.
Re-insert in the printer and run the printhead cleaning routine.
Print 2 pages. You should get dilute print for a half page or so and then good quality printing.

If this doesn't work, soak only the printhead in simmering water for up to 2 hours. You may add up to 50 percent ammonia for tough clogs. But don't do this if you haven't run the printhead cleaning software first.

Have a question? Give us a call at 1-573-223-3308 or email us at sales@vamex.com