Canon Refilling Instructions

Canon Refill Tips

Last update 07/29/2003

There are very few problems refilling most of the Canon cartridges.

Revised update about refilling Canon's Think Tank System.

To extend the life of the cartridge try not letting it go completely empty. Fill the cartridge when the ink is about 1/3 full from the bottom of the cartridge. This will stop air from becoming trapped in the sponge and stop starvation of the print head. It is very important when refilling our empty cartridges that you follow the instructions that come with our cartridges.

I am always asked how many times can I refill these cartridges. I have refilled these cartridges about 4 or 5 times. Then I will replace them with a new set. What I have found out is that the sponge can become over saturated and the ink will not flow correctly and starve the print head or that the seal on the top of the cartridge will develop an air leak. Then the ink will leak out into the printer. These cartridges are so inexpensive that I recommend replacement after 5 or 6 refills. Please don't mix ink from any other printer or use universal ink in these printers. If you do, then get ready to buy a new print head. Canon has developed their print heads to use only a high quality ink. We only sell a high quality ink for these printers. If you don't think that I'm right then buy ink from the other ink vendors and prove me wrong! Dr. Ink

Our cartridges are designed for easy refilling and storage.

Empty Cartridge Item Numbers:

Item # 708 Color Cartridges Item # 705 High Capacity Black Cartridge

Refill Questions for the cartridges used in the following models:

S400, S450, S500, S520, i550, S600, S630, S750, i850, 3000, 6000,

Photo Printers S800, S820, S900, i950, 8200, S9000, i9100

1. I filled my Canon original cartridges and the ink keeps leaking out.

Answer: If the cartridges are not sealed correctly this will allow air into the liquid chamber and the cartridge will leak. DO NOT use tape to seal the fill hole. We use hot candle wax. This works the best and is easy to remove when refilling again.

2. I filled my cartridge and now it will not print.

Answer: Over filling of the cartridge will cause saturation of the sponge chamber. This will cause banding or no printing at all. You will need to replace that cartridge.

3. I keep letting the cartridges go empty before refilling and now after refilling them they will not print.

Answer: This will cause the sponge chamber to fill with air and the sponge now will absorb the ink. Never let the cartridge go empty. Always fill the cartridges when the ink is 1/8 from the bottom of the liquid chamber..

Refill Questions for cartridges BCI-21 color or black or BCI-24 color or black.

1. I filled my BCI-21 or BCI-24 cartridges and the ink keeps leaking out.

Answer: You want to fill these cartridges slowly until you get a drip of ink out of the bottom then stop do not keep refilling. Then let them sit on a plastic dish not on a paper towels for about one hour. DO NOT put dripping cartridges back into your printer.

2. I put a new set of cartridges in my printer and the printer still will not print..

Answer: The print head may be clogged, try remove the print head and then remove the cartridges. Put the print head under the faucet and let hot water run over the print head for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then dry and install the cartridges and return the print head to the printer and run a cleaning cycle and see if this helps.

3. The lights on my printer keep blinking .

Answer: Most of the time when the on light blinks orange it can mean that the print head has failed and needs to be replaced.