Refilling Instructions for HP 94 and 96 Inkjet Cartridge

Refill Instructions

HP 94 and 96 Black Cartridges

These cartridges contain internal sponges to retain the ink. You will feel some resistance as you insert the needle.

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

Step 2) Remove the label on top of the cartridge. You will notice 5 holes.

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Step 3) Place the cartridge on your towels or newspaper so the holes are on top. Turn the cartridge so the single hole is farthest away from you and the other four holes are closes to you.

Step 4) Be sure to remove the protective snout from the syringe before attaching needle. Fill the syringe with black ink. Insert the needle fully into the single hole first. Don’t insert the needle straight down, but angle it toward the outside of the cartridge. This will prevent damage to the print head mechanism, which is located directly under the single hole on the bottom.

Watch the other two holes while filling to avoid making a mess by accidentally overfilling. Go slowly or you will develop air bubbles in the lower part of the sponge which will block ink flow.

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IMPORTANT: DO NOT OVERFILL, since over-filling can cause the cartridge to leak. Don’t put in more than the recommended amount of ink – 10-12 ml for the 94 and 20 ml for the 96. This is only if the cartridge is completely empty. Otherwise, it will take less ink to fill it. As you put the ink in hold the cartridge up so you can watch the print head. When the ink starts to come out the print head blot immediately with a paper and then tilt the cartridge backwards and start pulling the needle out as you slowly inject the remainder of the ink, watching the print head as you go. If ink starts to come out again pull the needle out and reinsert in one of the other holes, so as to disperse the ink throughout the internal sponge. If ink still tries to come out the print head the chamber is full of ink. Do not add additional ink!

Step 5) You may replace the label over the holes or place tape over them. However, the holes on top must be open during printing. If you notice you will see the top is designed with tiny channels for the air to come under the label. If you tape them over you must pierce a tiny hole over each one or the cartridge will print a few pages and then "airlock."

Step 6) Set on a paper towel lying on its side for an hour as a drip precaution, and to allow the ink to disperse throughout the internal sponge. Do not allow the print head to touch the paper, as it will "wick" the ink.

Troubleshooting

If you get poor quality print or no print at all you probably have clogged, or partially clogged jets. Dried out cartridges are usually the cause. The following is the best way to deal with this.

Take the cartridge out of the printer and cover the print head (that's the thing on the bottom of the cartridge where the ink comes out) with a wad of toilet paper. While standing, hold the cartridge in your hand, with the print head toward the floor and swing it hard, sort of like a softball pitcher winding up for the pitch. On the down swing really put some force into it. The force of gravity on the ink will force it through the clogged jet and clean it out. Swing two or three good swings and look at your tissue paper. When you see the ink coming out and leaving a good rectangular "track" you have gotten it unclogged. Re-insert the cartridge into the printer. Run the normal cleaning routine a few times. If the ink comes out well by swinging the cartridge, but it still won’t print correctly, it is very likely you have a defective cartridge. Some of the resistors may be burnt out. There is nothing to do in this case but replace the cartridge. Burnt-out resistors are caused most of the time by trying to continue printing after one or more colors have gone dry. The ink is the cooling agent for the resistors and when it is gone they overheat very quickly.

Ink level indicator says cartridge still empty: At this time we do not have any information on how to reset the ink level indicators with this cartridge. Your printer will print, but will continue to give the low-ink warning. As soon as we have information on this matter we will post it on our web site at http://www.vamex.com/troubleshooting_faq.htm

For more help go to our Troubleshooting FAQ at http://www.vamex.com/troubleshooting_faq.htm.