Printer advice please

getmore4less

I used choice stationary for my old MFC brother 
https://www.choicestationery.com/search?limitpw=1&q=Brother+MFC-440+CN


Brother printers like to be left on to do periodic cleans cycles when not used,
does use a bit of ink but ready when needed , if turned of they do a clean anyway.

interstellaflyer

getmore4less said:

Brother printers like to be left on to do periodic cleans cycles when not used,
does use a bit of ink but ready when needed , if turned of they do a clean anyway.

Yes, Brother machines (like inkjet printers in general) like to be left switched on and yes even if you switch them off, just like any other inkjet printer they will do a clean when switched back on, however if the machine has been switched of for a long period of time, which I believe is the case for the OP, the chances of it printing properly after that one clean is slim.

getmore4less

interstellaflyer said:

getmore4less said:

Brother printers like to be left on to do periodic cleans cycles when not used,
does use a bit of ink but ready when needed , if turned of they do a clean anyway.

Yes, Brother machines (like inkjet printers in general) like to be left switched on and yes even if you switch them off, just like any other inkjet printer they will do a clean when switched back on, however if the machine has been switched of for a long period of time, which I believe is the case for the OP, the chances of it printing properly after that one clean is slim.

worth a  few clean cycles,  if no progress,  flushing (youtube vids show how) is an option to try.
( i ould have a go with the carts that are in and if no joy try a flush and then re prime with the old carts to see how it goes. 

studyingitalian

Thanks so much to you all for taking the trouble to reply! It’s been most helpful. 

The Brother has been in a loft under the eaves at my son’s  house for 2-3 years, unused. I hadn’t thought about the ink drying out, and it’s a good point. 

Armed with the very useful info on here, I plan to buy some cheap ink and set it up. If it doesn’t print well, I won’t have lost much.

studyingitalian

And I’ve just checked and it has ink in, so I can start there first, before even buying ink.  Thanks again.

getmore4less

Even if you can't get the print working the 10 sheet document feed might come in handy.

studyingitalian

getmore4less said:

Even if you can't get the print working the 10 sheet document feed might come in handy.

That’s definitely going to be beyond me! 😂

interstellaflyer

studyingitalian said:

getmore4less said:

Even if you can't get the print working the 10 sheet document feed might come in handy.

That’s definitely going to be beyond me! 😂

Handy for scanning multiple page documents, also handy for photocopying if you manage to get it to print.

studyingitalian

Ah I get it!  

J_B

When I had a Brother MFC printer, I bought a 'head cleaning' cartridge for it