brush or cloth, and never use alcohol or a thinner to clean the printer because it could damage the print head and the case.

Do not spray the inside of the printer with oil: unsuitable oils can damage the mechanism. If lubrication is needed, call the toll-free Epson number: 1-800421-5426.

The print head

Be particularly careful with the print head. Never move it when the printer is turned on. When the printer is printing, the print head becomes hot. If you need to change the ribbon or load continuous paper, turn the printer off and wait for a few minutes while the print head cools down.

Each pin on the print head should last about 200 million strokes. When the print head fails, one or more of the pins may fire erratically or stop firing completely, making the printout patchy. If this happens suddenly or long before the expected lifetime is over, the problem is almost certainly connected with another component of the printer.

Replacing the print head

As soon as the print head fails, stop using the printer and obtain a replacement head; either see your dealer or call the 800 number for information on where to purchase one. The catalog number is #8732.

To replace the head, follow these steps:

1.Turn the printer OFF

2.If the printer has been recently used, the print head will be hot. Let it cool.

3.Open the printer lid.

4.Remove the ribbon.

5.Release the head lock levers. (See Figure C-1.)

C - 1O

Problem Solving and Maintenance