How to install continuous ink system to Canon PIXMA iP2702

The PIXMA IP2702 is the best in the market thanks to its high quality printing and affordable price. Also, this printer uses FINE 210 and 211 japanese made ink cartridges which are able to retain more ink and it makes the perfect printer to print with continuos ink system.
Thanks to the incorporation of continuos ink system in most printer's structures, the consumer can print more pages and waste less ink. Therefore, saving more money in the long run and helping the consumer to avoid buying a brand new ink cartridge.

This is not a multifunction printer, but for domestic use is perfect. The PIXMA IP2702 with a continuos ink system can print large quantities of paper without any problems. Moreover, since its a single function printer; it is less likely to present any technical anomalies that plagues most of printers with a continuos ink system. Finally, to put it in simple terms "the simple they are the less headaches we'll have".
A continuos ink system is an device made of several ink tank that can be adapted to a printer so it can print with out any ink cartridges. Before you decide to install a continuos ink system, we recommend to read continuos ink system components.
While continuos ink system allows us to print large quantity of paper, we recommend to read the manufacturer instructions and focus on the printer's ability to hold such system, after all Canon PIXMA IP2702 must obey like the rest of the other printers  the system manufacturer's laws.  

Continuos ink system ink's tanks

Continuos ink system installation procedures for Canon PIXMA IP2702:

We recommend using continuos ink system silicon hoses for better handling and maneuverability when the rail where the system is mounted inside the printer moves. Thus, allowing the ink to flow effortlessly though the hoses. 

Essential tools for installation

• We'll need a Canon PIXMA IP2702 (even better if you have a brand new one).
• We'll need 210 and 211 ink cartridges (If you have purchase the new version of Canon PIXMA IP2702 printer, chances are, the printer will come with updated ink cartridges. We recommend new ink cartridges in case the cartridges that came with the printer get damage. We recommend purchasing ink cartridges XL version since these ink cartridges have greater ink capacity for long last printing).
• We'll need a cartridge bleeder for Canon 210 and 211 cartridges. See image bellow.

cartridge bleeder

• We'll need a drill wick to make a small hole in the cartridge just as big as the connectors so the hoses can pass through. See image bellow.

Drill wick for piercing Canon cartridges

Now we show you which are the hoses connectors for Canon ink cartridges. We recommend you to take these hose connectors to the hardware store so you may find the right connectors when you are ready to purchase them. Also, at the hardware store you will be able to find the appropriate drill wick for the connectors so you will have no problem installing the system and avoiding any air leakage.  

Hose connectors

• We'll need a four color continuous ink system for Canon printers. Usually, these systems bring their own installation accessories as shown in the image above. However, we've detailed some of the items that sometimes do not come with some of the systems.
• We'll need base water ink or dye. But, if you have a pigmented ink, it's ok to use as well. We recommend to read our post on the difference between dye and pigmented ink , these systems provide four ounces of ink to the ink tanks. 

We recommend to carefully read this post to avoid any confusion when you are implementing these steps. If you have any doubts, please write them in the provided comment area.

Continuos ink system installation procedures for Canon printer:

The following steps must be perform correctly so we may obtain the desire results. Moreover, we recommend to perform the procedure in safe place where you do not have to worry about ink spill. If you wish you place a piece of cloth or paper towel where the installation is going to take place.  Also, use latex gloves to avoid any ink stain on your hands. 

Step 1.

Before installing a continuos ink system, we must make sure that the ink cartridges are not clog. This type of check up is usually perform on cartridges that come with a brand new printer. However, if the printer is used, then we need to check if the cartridges are properly working with the print heads and printing with optimal quality. Therefore, we recommend to print a test page to see how well the second hand printer prints. Please refer to the printer owner manual regarding continuos ink system. 

Connectors and print head

When we talk about plastic packaging Canon 210 and 211 cartridges, we mean what show below, as stated above it is advisable to do the cartridges perforations within these packages to avoid contact with the connectors and nozzle.

Plastic packaging where Canon cartridge come

Step # 4

This step consists of doing perforations to ink cartridge for installation of hoses. For this you must have the drill bit that we mentioned above. Now I will show you a picture of the right place where you have to do the perforations. Verify that the drilling waste are not left inside the cartridge, please drill carefully and check that the drill bit is always straight. In this step we have to know that drilling must be slightly smaller than the hose connectors, that will avoid the airflow at that point of the installation.

"Important note: for drilling the cartridge, we recommend plugging the hole that brings the cartridge to the top and make the hole a little below and to the left, when we talk of a little distance we are talking about the size of a continuous ink system hose, this will prevent the tricolor ink cartridge not recognized in the future because the printer head has a piece that will not allow the connectors come completely to the printer. "

Here is a picture of how the correct perforation should be

The right perforation of the Canon 211 cartridge

Step # 5

After having already drilled our cartridges perform the installation of the hose connectors as discussed above, these must be firmly attached and without exhaust air when put our elbows on the hose connectors these work perfectly. see image.

Step # 6

After having the two ink cartridges hose connectors installed, we proceed to fill ink tanks, for that we will need about 4 ounces of dye ink.

Step # 7

Place each color of ink in its respective hole, for that we must put both cartridges outside our printer almost at the same distance they will be inside the printer, because all hoses will not have the same size, and make the cuts the exact measure for each color. see image below.

Distance of the hose

Step # 8

Install elbows to the continuous ink system, the elbows are as the name says, small elbows to help the ink system fits the design of the printer and bounce into the process of the printer.

Step # 9

We connect the corresponding colors for each color in the ink cartridge, if necessary can test the distances of the  hose cuts.

Step # 10

We have already installed the cartridges in the ink system, the need now is to make the ink  get to the cartridges. To do that we use the ink bleeder, this tool is a very good utility because it is used to take ink out of the cartridges, and in this case we are going to use it to make the ink in the tanks get to the cartridges and fill the hoses of ink. When we see that the ink filled the cartridge, we stop to avoid exceeding the limits and to avoid ink spills inside our printer.

After the ink cartridge reaches the hoses you will them like the picture below. The ink is already in the cartridge.

How hoses look when the cartidge is full of ink

Another way to get the ink inside the cartridges is through an empty syringe. Remove the needle from the syringe and introduce air to the system, the air will cause the ink reaches the tip of the ink system. To do this the hoses can not be connected to the cartridge, we put air quickly when the ink is arriving introduce hose elbow to the ink cartridge. If you want to use this method you have to do the same for each color. See image.

Step # 12

You have to clean any ink residue that appears in the printer to prevent scattering of toner pages, be careful passing through the area where the pages go though. If during the bleeding of the cartridge it has spill ink you must remove it, use napkins and be aware of not to leave any residue on the napkin either.

After all the above procedure, we an installation like the picture that appears below, we must avoid the hoses rub to prevent the printer carriage to jam because in the future this could cause an error in our printer. See emage.

Step # 13

Now the last thing we do is print a test page with our printer and the ink system installed, look for the sensor the lid that gives access to the cartridge, let it open so that you can see if there is any obstruction while printing. After seeing that there is no obstruction what you do is to place the hose in place and start printing. If you have any  problem or questions about this post makes a comment in this post and we will gladly help you.