Refill Instructions for Canon CLI-281/581

Cartridge:

  • Canon CLI-281 Color (Dye)
  • Canon CLI-581 Color (Dye) – European Version

Type: Sponge

Ink Volume:

  • Canon CLI-281/581 – 5.6mL
  • Canon CLI-281/581 XL – 8.3mL
  • Canon CLI-281/581 XXL – 11.7mL

Cartridge Color: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Photo Blue

Materials Required

  • Empty or Partially Filled Cartridge
  • Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, or Photo Blue Ink
  • Disposable Glove
  • Paper Towel or Cotton Cloth
  • Syringe with Tubing

Instructions:

  1. Before beginning, ensure that the cartridge is refilled on top of a non-absorbent, easy to clean material (like a sink).
  2. Flip the cartridge over until the semi-oval sponges are visible.
  3. Place the clear tube onto the syringe and fill the syringe until full. Slowly release the ink, drop by drop, onto the sponge of their corresponding ink cartridge. When the cartridge is empty, the sponge will immediately absorb the ink. Once it is near capacity, the sponge will absorb ink slower and may take up to a second to fully absorb. You can stop refilling at this point; oversaturating the sponge will only cause it to leak out.
  4. Flip the cartridge over the paper towel and carefully shake the cartridge. There should be no ink dripping from the sponge. You can use the paper towel to absorb any excess ink.
  5. Re-insert the cartridge into the printer
  6. The print may display the two following error codes:
  7. Error Code 1600 Error Code 1689
    The ink may have run out. Replacing the ink tank is recommended. Printer detected ink out condition. Replace the ink tank
  8. The first error code (1600) can be bypassed by simply clicking OK on the printer. The second error code can be bypassed by simply holding down the STOP button on the printer until the message disappears.
  9. If you are having trouble with the refill kit please refer to our comprehensive troubleshooting guide or contact us by SUBMITTING A TICKET (Click Here).

Refill Instructions for Canon CL-276/XL Tri-Color

Cartridge:

  • Canon CL-276
  • Canon CL-276XL

Type: Sponge

Ink Volume:

  • CL-276 6.2 mL
  • CL-276XL – 12.6 mL

Cartridge Color: Tri-Color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow)

Materials Required

  • Empty or Partially Filled Cartridge
  • Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Ink
  • Drill Tool
  • Disposable Glove
  • Paper Towel
  • Syringe and Needle
  • Printhead Cleaning Wipes

Instructions:

  1. Before beginning, ensure that the cartridge is refilled on top of a flat surface that is easy to clean and won’t stain. Place one or several folded sheets of paper towels beneath the cartridge.
  2. Partially remove the identification label from the top of the cartridge until all the holes are revealed as below. You will note that the regular and the XL cartridge look identical. Although they are filled to a different volume at the factory, either cartridge should be able to hold around 5 mL of ink per color. Also note that the following white dots are the location of the air holes.
  3. Position the included drill tool over the provided air holes (as referenced above) as they each lead to three, different ink chambers. Slowly turn the included drill bit tool in a forward and reverse motion until you are able to access the ink reservoir beneath with the provided needle.
  4. Fill the syringe until full (around 5 mL) though the fill capacity of the cartridge may be lower depending on any remaining ink inside.
  5. Insert the needle roughly halfway into the hole as shown in the picture reference and slowly inject ink into the cartridge. Pause every few seconds to allow the interior sponge to saturate before proceeding. If ink is close to or overflows, pause, pull the syringe back 1/2 mL and stop.
  6. Note: it is not necessary to insert the entire needle into the cartridge; only enough to reach and saturate the sponge. There are screens and filters on the bottom that may be damaged if inserted in full.
  7. Repeat steps 3-5 for the remaining colors.
  8. It is normal for the printhead to drip excess ink for a short time. During this period do not allow the printhead to have direct contact with an absorbent material such as a paper towel as this may cause the cartridge to continue leaking. Simply leave the cartridge in a dry sink and wait until the dripping has ceased before using the provided alcohol cleaning wipe (or a damp towel with water/rubbing alcohol) to clean the bottom of the cartridge. Additionally, dab off any excess ink from the printhead with a lint-free towel or a soft cloth
  9. Seal the top of the cartridge using the original identification label. Do not cover or block the air hole with tape.
  10. Insert the cartridge back into the printer. It is normal for the printer to display a low ink notification after the refill process, as this sensor is based on the number of pages printed and not the actual ink capacity of the cartridge. The printer will continue to print normally until an error message appears on your PC (Support Code: 1688) or E16 on the printer’s built-in LCD display. To disable this error code, do not close the window, but head to the printer and disable the monitoring system by holding down the triangle/stop button until the corresponding ink light blinks, and the printer will continue to print.
  11. Perform a nozzle check pattern print test to settle the cartridge and check for any printing irregularities. Alternatively, you may print a color picture or a black text document to test the color or black cartridge, respectively. It is also recommended to run the Alignment Tool or Cleaning Tool from the printer. Most printers with an LCD display will have this option available in the settings menu. Printers without a display will generally have this setting under Printer Preferences/Settings from the PC/Mac.
  12. If you are having trouble with the refill kit please refer to our comprehensive troubleshooting guide or contact us by SUBMITTING A TICKET (Click Here).

Refill Instructions for Canon CL-41/51/241/XL Tri-Color

Cartridge:

  • Canon CL-41
  • Canon CL-51
  • Canon CL-241 or CL-241XL

Type: Sponge

Ink Volume:

  • Canon CL-41 – 4ml per color
  • Canon CL-51 – 4ml per color
  • Canon CL-241 – 2.5ml per color
  • Canon CL-241XL – 5ml per color

Cartridge Color: Tri-Color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow)

Materials Required

  • Empty or Partially Filled Cartridge
  • Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Ink
  • Drill Tool
  • Disposable Glove
  • Paper Towel
  • Syringe and Needle
  • Printhead Cleaning Wipes

Instructions:

  1. Before beginning, ensure that the cartridge is refilled on top of a non-absorbent, easy to clean material (like a sink).
  2. Partially remove the identification label from the top of the cartridge until all the holes are revealed as above.
  3. Position the included drill tool over the provided air holes (as referenced on the white dots above) as they each lead to three, different ink chambers. Slowly turn the included drill bit tool in a forward and reverse motion until you are able to access the ink reservoir beneath with the provided needle.
  4. Fill the syringe until full (around 5 mL) though the fill capacity of the cartridge may be lower depending on any remaining ink inside.
  5. Insert the needle roughly halfway into the hole as shown in the picture reference and slowly inject ink into the cartridge. Pause every few seconds to allow the interior sponge to saturate before proceeding. If ink is close to or overflows, pause, pull the syringe back 1/2 mL and stop.
  6. Note: it is not necessary to insert the entire needle into the cartridge; only enough to reach and saturate the sponge. There are screens and filters on the bottom that may be damaged if inserted in full.

  7. Repeat steps 3-5 for the remaining colors.
  8. It is normal for the printhead to drip excess ink for a short time. During this period do not allow the printhead to have direct contact with an absorbent material such as a paper towel as this will cause the cartridge to continue leaking. Wait until the dripping has ceased before dabbing off excess ink from the printhead with a soft cloth or a towel.
  9. Use the provided Alcohol Cleaning Wipe to clean the bottom of the cartridge. If you run out of the provided wipes, you may use a damp cotton cloth with water or rubbing alcohol to achieve a similar result.
  10. Seal the top of the cartridge using the original identification label. Do not cover or block the air hole with tape.
  11. Insert the cartridge back into the printer. It is normal for the printer to display a low ink notification after the refill process, as this sensor is based on the number of pages printed and not the actual ink capacity of the cartridge. The printer will continue to print normally until an error message appears on your PC (Support Code: 1688) or E16 on the printer’s built-in LCD display, if available. To disable this error code, do not close the window, but head to the printer and disable the monitoring system by holding down the triangle/stop button until the corresponding ink light blinks, and the printer will continue to print.
  12. Perform a nozzle check pattern to settle the cartridge and test for printing irregularities. Alternatively, you may print a color picture or a black text document to test the color or black cartridge, respectively. It is also recommended to run the Alignment Tool or Cleaning Tool from the printer. Most printers with an LCD display will have this option available in the settings menu. Printers without a display will generally have this setting under Printer Preferences/Settings from the PC/Mac.
  13. If you are having trouble with the refill kit please refer to our comprehensive troubleshooting guide or contact us by SUBMITTING A TICKET (Click Here).

Refill Instructions for Canon CL-211/244/246/261/XL Tri-Color

Cartridge:

  • Canon CL-211 or CL-211XL
  • Canon CL-244
  • Canon CL-246 or CL-246XL
  • Canon CL-261 or CL-261XL

Type: Sponge

Ink Volume:

  • Canon CL-211/211XL – 5ml per color
  • Canon CL-244 – 5ml per color
  • Canon CL-246/246XL – 5ml per color
  • Canon CL-261/261XL – 5ml per color

Cartridge Color: Tri-Color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow)

Materials Required

  • Empty or Partially Filled Cartridge
  • Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Ink
  • Drill Tool
  • Disposable Glove
  • Paper Towel
  • Syringe and Needle
  • Printhead Cleaning Wipes

Instructions:

  1. Before beginning, ensure that the cartridge is refilled on top of a non-absorbent, easy to clean material (like a sink).
  2. Partially remove the identification label from the top of the cartridge until all the holes are revealed as below. You will note that the regular and the XL cartridge look identical. Although they are filled to a different volume at the factory, either cartridge should be able to hold around 5 mL of ink per color. Also note that the following white dots are the location of the air holes – do not seal them.
  3. Position the included drill tool over the provided air holes (as referenced above) as they each lead to three, different ink chambers. Slowly turn the included drill bit tool in a forward and reverse motion until you are able to access the ink reservoir beneath with the provided needle.
  4. Fill the syringe until full (around 5 mL) though the fill capacity of the cartridge may be lower depending on any remaining ink inside.
  5. Insert the needle roughly halfway into the hole as shown in the picture reference and slowly inject ink into the cartridge. Pause every few seconds to allow the interior sponge to saturate before proceeding. If ink is close to or overflows, pause, pull the syringe back 1/2 mL and stop.
  6. Note: it is not necessary to insert the entire needle into the cartridge; only enough to reach and saturate the sponge. There are screens and filters on the bottom that may be damaged if inserted in full.
  7. Repeat steps 3-5 for the remaining colors.
  8. It is normal for the printhead to drip excess ink for a short time. During this period do not allow the printhead to have direct contact with an absorbent material such as a paper towel as this will cause the cartridge to continue leaking. Wait until the dripping has ceased before dabbing off excess ink from the printhead with a soft cloth or a towel.
  9. Use the provided Alcohol Cleaning Wipe to clean the bottom of the cartridge. If you run out of the provided wipes, you may use a damp cotton cloth with water or rubbing alcohol to achieve a similar result.
  10. Seal the top of the cartridge using the original identification label. Do not cover or block the air hole with tape.
  11. Insert the cartridge back into the printer. It is normal for the printer to display a low ink notification after the refill process, as this sensor is based on the number of pages printed and not the actual ink capacity of the cartridge. The printer will continue to print normally until an error message appears on your PC (Support Code: 1688) or E16 on the printer’s built-in LCD display, if available. To disable this error code, do not close the window, but head to the printer and disable the monitoring system by holding down the triangle/stop button until the corresponding ink light blinks, and the printer will continue to print.
  12. Perform a nozzle check pattern to settle the cartridge and test for printing irregularities. Alternatively, you may print a color picture or a black text document to test the color or black cartridge, respectively. It is also recommended to run the Alignment Tool or Cleaning Tool from the printer. Most printers with an LCD display will have this option available in the settings menu. Printers without a display will generally have this setting under Printer Preferences/Settings from the PC/Mac.
  13. If you are having trouble with the refill kit please refer to our comprehensive troubleshooting guide or contact us by SUBMITTING A TICKET (Click Here).